FHP: Tampa man, 48, identified as victim in Wednesday’s deadly Buckman bridge accident

July 17--Investigators will need at least several weeks before determining whether to file any criminal charges in Wednesday's deadly Buckman Bridge accident that killed a 48-year-old Tampa man, the Florida Highway Patrol said.

The Highway Patrol identified the victim as William B. Maddox, 48, a former Jacksonville resident. Police notified Maddox's brother of his death early Thursday, then released the victim's name.

The family could not be reached to comment.

Court records show at least six previous traffic citations for Andrew McPhun, 22, whose northbound car struck Maddox's pickup truck, causing it to spin and flip over a concrete guardrail. The truck plunged into the St. Johns River, where Maddox was seen briefly swimming before disappearing. It's unclear how he got out of the truck.

Court records show McPhun, of Fleming Island, has received at least six traffic citations since 2008 in Duval and Clay counties. In 2008 he was twice cited for speeding (attended traffic school once, paid fines both times) and once for not having a driver's license; in 2009 for speeding (only Clay citation; fined) 2011 for not having proof of insurance (dismissed) and in 2013 for speeding (paid fine).

Capt. Keith Gatson of the Highway Patrol said traffic homicide investigators will need weeks to review the evidence before presenting it to prosecutors for a filing decision.

McPhun could not be reached to comment.

The deadly 8 a.m. rush-hour accident followed an initial wreck on the south side of the bridge in which a tractor-trailer jackknifed. Police said rubbernecking by northbound drivers may have led to the second accident, which occurred about 100 yards from the northbound end of the bridge near the Roosevelt Boulevard exit.

Maddox's small pickup was found upside down in about 12 feet of water. Search crews recovered the body about 25 feet north of the bridge about noon.

Barrier railings on the bridge are built to federal standards of 2 feet, 8 inches high and are designed to bounce swerving cars back into the road lane, but would not stop an airborne vehicle, particularly after a violent collision.

Ron Tittle, spokesman for the Florida Department of Transportation, said a visual inspection of the bridge found no significant damage. A special accident inspection will follow to document any details for the bridge's history and potential minor repairs.

The Highway Patrol said it has investigated 101 traffic crashes on the bridge since last July.

Jim Schoettler: (904) 359-4385

___

(c)2014 The Florida Times-Union (Jacksonville, Fla.)

Visit The Florida Times-Union (Jacksonville, Fla.) at www.jacksonville.com

Distributed by MCT Information Services