JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Two people died Wednesday morning after the vehicle they were occupying, crashed into a Firehouse Subs restaurant on Jacksonville's Southside and caught fire, according to the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office.
JSO's Lieutenant Nassim Mana says at approximately 1:20 a.m., a driver and a passenger of a gray BMW were traveling northbound on University Boulevard South near Terry Road. He says the driver of the BMW was "speeding and failed to maintain control of the vehicle at the curve."
Police say the vehicle crashed into the building before it caught on fire and that both the vehicle and building sustained significant damage as result of the crash.
The Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department arrived after the crash in which they pronounced both the driver and passenger dead at the scene.
Mana says there were no other vehicles or people involved in the crash.
JSO's Traffic Homicide detectives and the Medical Examiner's Office will be investigating the crash.
On April 18, 2018, a crash involving a motorcyclist, occurred at the same Firehouse Subs located along University Boulevard South, and resulted in a 41-year-old woman's death. Grace Gossege Jimenez was identified by Jacksonville police as the victim who died. The 2018 crash led city officials to install concrete, yellow poles as barriers.
Police also say that the northbound lanes on University Boulevard from Terry Road to Barnhill Drive, will remain closed "for a few more hours." Please seek alternate routes to avoid delays in the area.
Firehouse Subs issued the following statement Wednesday after the crash:
"Our thoughts go out to the loved ones of those impacted from today's accident. The Firehouse restaurant at Englewood was not open during the time of the accident and no team members or guests were present. We are working to support local authorities as needed."