Following Buckman Bridge fatality, here's a look at the FDOT Road Rangers program

Scott Butler, Florida Times-Union
·2 min read
A Florida Department of Transportation Road Ranger remains on scene of a deadly crash after the truck hit another pickup on the Buckman Bridge, knocking it over the barricade into the St. Johns River on Feb. 28 in Jacksonville.
A Florida Department of Transportation Road Ranger remains on scene of a deadly crash after the truck hit another pickup on the Buckman Bridge, knocking it over the barricade into the St. Johns River on Feb. 28 in Jacksonville.

Now that the Florida Highway Patrol has cited a state Road Ranger with careless driving that caused another motorist to careen over the Buckman Bridge guardrail to his death, some people may want to know more about the roadside-assistance program.

Wilfrid Jouquin, 61, died in that Feb. 28 collision on Interstate 295 in Jacksonville when Lydell Correia, 23, clipped his pickup truck from behind after trying to change lanes to avoid him, according to the Highway Patrol report. It redirected Jouquin's truck into the barrier wall and a light pole before plunging into the river below.

Following is some information about the Road Rangers and their services, according to the Florida Department of Transportation at https://www.fdot.gov/traffic/roadrangers/about.htm.

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Who runs the Road Rangers program?

The Road Ranger Service Patrol is funded by the Florida Department of Transportation and its partners and is bid out to private contractors, according to the FDOT

What is the Road Rangers’ mission?

They provide free highway assistance services during incidents to reduce delays and improve safety for the motoring public and responders. The Road Rangers are roving vehicles whose drivers patrol congested areas and high-incident locations of main thoroughfares. They keep traffic moving by clearing travel lanes of minor incidents and assisting motorists.

What types of services do Road Rangers provide?

  • Change flat tires

  • Jump-start vehicles and make minor repairs

  • Offer stranded motorists two free local calls

  • Clear disabled vehicles from travel lanes

  • Clear debris from travel lanes

  • Supply emergency gasoline, diesel, water

  • Monitor abandoned vehicles and notify the FHP

  • Traffic control during incidents

  • Reduce further traffic accidents

How many Road Rangers work in Northeast Florida and what are their hours?

There are currently 63 First Coast Road Rangers whose routes are covered 24/7.

How does someone know they’re a Road Ranger?

Although each contractor has a different make of vehicle, all are white in color with the Road Rangers logo affixed to the rear and sides of the vehicle. Drivers are all in uniform, and most have training for first aid and CPR. Each service patrol driver provides a comment card to every stranded motorist that is assisted, which can be mailed back to the department.

When did the Road Rangers begin and how many motorists have been helped?

Since the program's inception in 2000, the Road Rangers have made about 6.1 million service assists.

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: A guide to the FDOT Road Rangers after Buckman Bridge fatal crash