JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — A leading figure in the Jacksonville Port Authority has died.

James Bennett, Chief Operating Officer of JAXPORT and a Baker County Commissioner, is said to have died in a car accident on Monday.

JAXPORT provided the following statement:

"We are deeply saddened by the unexpected passing of our colleague and friend, James Bennett. James dedicated his life to improving the quality of life for people in Northeast Florida, and our entire community is better for his service. He was a valued member of our leadership team, overseeing two of our largest departments—Operations and Engineering—and serving as a trusted liaison for many of our port partners.

James brought extraordinary dedication, skill, and heart to everything he did. His work ethic was unmatched, and his comm

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