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Large loggerhead sea turtle struck by vehicles, killed on State Road A1A near Indialantic

Published May 13, 2021, 1:57 PM

A 400-pound female loggerhead sea turtle was fatally struck by vehicles Wednesday morning on State Road A1A along Florida's Space Coast. According to experts, the turtle emerged from the ocean and tried several times to make a nest. The disoriented turtle ended up going over the dune line and on to the dark road.  Area scientists said it was a rare mishap. The turtle, a threatened species that is protected by the federal Endangered Species Act, was estimated to be 50 to 60 years old.  Sea turtle personnel were able to retrieve about 70 eggs, which were reburied in a new nest chamber on the beach. That nest will be monitored for the next 45 to 55 days to see how many hatchlings emerge and if the turtle’s legacy will live on.