Jacksonville Port Authority Chief Operating Officer James Bennett died Monday morning in a car crash, JaxPort confirmed to News4JAX.
Read full article: LIVE: Baker County community pays respects after Jacksonville Port Authority COO dies in crash FILE - Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks during a news conference Aug. 12, 2025, in Tampa, Fla.
Florida Supreme Court hears arguments as man convicted of killing 8-year-old Cherish Perrywinkle asks for new trial Read full article: Florida Supreme Court hears arguments as man convicted of killing 8-year-old Cherish Perrywinkle asks for new trialLooking for the best beachy gift? Hang Loose Bands in Jax Beach has the best options for beach lovers Read full article: Looking for the best beachy gift? Hang Loose Bands in Jax Beach has the best options for beach lovers– A procession Wednesday will return Baker County Commissioner Jimmy Bennett’s remains to Macclenny after he died Monday morning in a crash on I-10. Bennett, who also served as the chief operating officer for the Jacksonville Port Authority, had been on the Baker County Commission since 2011. The procession bringing Bennett back to Baker County will travel through Macclenny on Highway 90, beginning east of the Baker County Courthouse and continuing along US 90 before reaching Ferreira Funeral Home. The county invited community members who wish to pay their respects to line the procession route on US 90 safely and respectfully. “Commissioner Bennett served our county with integrity and heartfelt commitment. We are grateful for his years of service,” Sheriff Scotty Rhoden wrote in a social media post.In a statement, JaxPort spokesperson Chelsea Kavanagh wrote that the organization’s employees and leadership were deeply saddened by Bennett’s unexpected passing. “James dedicated his life to improving the quality of life for people in Northeast Florida, and our entire community is better for his service,” Kavanagh wrote. Bennett oversaw JaxPort’s two largest departments—Operations and Engineering—and as a member of the leadership team was the liaison for many of the port’s partners. He had worked for JaxPort since 2017 and became COO in 2022., west of U.S. 301. His Lexus sedan was rear-ended in traffic by an F-150. The impact slammed him into the inside guardrail and spun his car around.“James brought extraordinary dedication, skill, and heart to everything he did. His work ethic was unmatched, and his commitment to our mission elevated everyone around him,” Kavanagh wrote. “He loved his work and the people he worked alongside, and in turn, we were all made better by working with him.”Bennett joined JaxPort as its senior director of engineering and construction. In that role, he was responsible for the completion of JaxPort’s 47-foot harbor deepening project, $100 million berth modernization project, and renovations to the JaxPort Cruise Terminal, “Beyond his professional accomplishments, James was an exceptional human being whose spirit filled every room he entered. His loss will be felt deeply across our organization,” Kavanagh wrote. “We are forever grateful for his leadership, his friendship, and his service to our port and to Northeast Florida.” Before JaxPort, Bennett spent more than 20 years with the Florida Department of Transportation, where he served as planning manager for District Two, encompassing 18 counties throughout North Florida, according to JDR. Bennett has also been a Baker County Commissioner since 2011, and the commission shared a social media post on Monday, mourning his passing. “Our community has lost a dedicated public servant, a cherished colleague, and a well-respected leader,” the post read. “Commissioner Bennett’s impact on Baker County was immeasurable. His integrity, compassion, and unwavering commitment to this community will forever remain a part of our county’s history. We are grateful for his years of service and for the steady sense of responsibility and service he demonstrated throughout his time in office.”Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan posted this statement online: “On behalf of my administration and the City of Jacksonville, our heartfelt condolences go out to the Bennett and JAXPORT families during this heartbreaking time. We are extremely thankful for James Bennett’s care, dedication, and service to not only Jacksonville, but also all of Northeast Florida.”“I’ve had a chance to work with him, just a really good guy. He really believed in the great things this community could do and that the community was doing. And his charge was not just to work at JaxPort, but was to make North Florida better. And he was doing that with every decision he made,” said Johnson.Ariel Schiller joined the News4Jax team as an evening reporter in September of 2023. She comes to Jacksonville from Tallahassee where she worked at ABC27 as a Weekend Anchor/Reporter for 10 months.A Jacksonville native and proud University of North Florida alum, Francine Frazier has been with News4Jax since 2014 after spending nine years at The Florida Times-Union.Sheriff credits work of Narcotics Unit with contributing to ‘significant drop’ in overdose deathsRichard's Swing Makeover Pt. 15: We're doing a jigFamily describes terrifying ordeal after 4-year-old boy loses ear in dog attackWhy rain can cause headaches and joint painNassau County Christmas tree lighting and fireworksTracking a rainy weekend of possibly disruptive stormsEp. 5: Breakup blues? 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