National Guard to End Patrols of Florida Highway

National Guard troops protecting motorists on Interstate 295 will depart by Sunday, almost a month after an outbreak of sniper fire and rock-throwing drew travel warnings, authorities said Thursday.

“I feel comfortable in saying we have successfully reduced the threat,” said Sheriff Jim McMillan, adding that it has been three weeks since the last attack on the troubled stretch of highway.

In early November, the American Automobile Assn. warned motorists to avoid the beltway, which runs south and west of Jacksonville, because of numerous cases of highway violence. The group lifted its travel warning last week.

I-295 is a major entry point for thousands of tourists coming to Florida from the north.

Shortly after the warning was issued, the National Guard stationed troops near highway bridges and overpasses. Earlier this week, it reduced the number of Guardsmen from about 150 to 75 and began patrolling the highway. The Guard pullout will be completed by Sunday, McMillan said.

In addition, the Florida Department of Transportation erected 10-foot-high fences on several overpasses to prevent people from dropping objects onto vehicles.

The Florida Highway Patrol and Florida Department of Law Enforcement investigated 38 confirmed rock-throwing and sniper incidents. Four teen-agers have been charged with throwing rocks at a school bus, and two other young men have been charged with car theft.