JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Early Sunday morning, First Coast CrossFit owner Daniel Mattsson-Boze was met with an unexpected disruption when a truck crashed into the side of his Murray Hill gym, creating a large hole in the building. The incident occurred shortly before 3:00 a.m.
“The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office showed up at my door. I live just a mile away,” Mattsson-Boze recounted. “They said a truck went through the gym wall.”
Despite the security cameras installed at the gym, there is no footage of the crash. Mattsson-Boze explained that the power might have been cut too quickly for the cameras to capture the incident.
“However ADT had that setup, it didn’t pick that up, maybe because it cut the power too quickly, or whatever it was,” Mattsson-Boze said. “So there’s no footage of that, unfortunately, even though it happened right in front of the camera.”
While dealing with insurance claims and the inconvenience of repairs, Mattsson-Boze remains optimistic. Fortunately, the workout area of the gym was not damaged, allowing the facility to remain open.
“We’ll have someone come out and make sure everything’s safe and structural before we do anything too crazy,” Mattsson-Boze reassured. “But, you know, it’s life. So far, it looks like we’ll be able to keep operating.”
He also expressed concerns about the nearby Edgewood Avenue intersection, which he believes contributed to the accident. Mattsson-Boze hopes the city will take action to improve safety at the intersection.
“There have been several accidents here since we’ve been here for about six months,” he said. “Maybe this will prompt the city to consider installing a four-way stop or a traffic light. We’ll see.”
According to Jacksonville Fire and Rescue, one person in the truck was hospitalized in serious condition, while another sustained non-life-threatening injuries.