Florida’s Turnpike Crash Kills Father and Son

By Orlando Personal Injury Attorney on July 13, 2015

A crash on the Florida Turnpike near milepost 220 has claimed the life of a father and son from West Palm Beach. The Florida Highway Patrol reported that five family members riding in a northbound vehicle on Florida’s Turnpike, when one of the rear tires blew out or separated causing the driver to lose control of the vehicle.

The vehicle entered the median and flipped end over end before coming to rest in the southbound lanes. The male driver of the vehicle was killed along with one of his 15-year-old sons. An 11-year-old and 13-year-old male, along with their 80-year-old grandmother also suffered injuries.

A half-mile stretch of the Florida Turnpike was shut down for several hours Thursday following the terrible accident. The crash is currently still under investigation. It is unclear at this tire whether the tire separation was related to a maintenance issue or perhaps a defect. The vehicle involved was a 2006 Toyota SUV.

Though the outcome of Thursday incident was quite horrific, it could have been far worse if the out of control Toyota had accidentally involved another vehicle in the crash. There have been many reports in the recent months of drivers losing control of their vehicles due to blown or separated tires. As temperatures rise in the summer months, so does the amount of latent heat trapped in road surfaces, which we crisscross on the way to work, the store, our favorite restaurant, etc. The heat also wreaks havoc on tires, particularly those that are older and have become brittle or where the steel threads are sticking through.

Proper care and maintenance of your vehicle, including its tires, is of great importance to both the safety of your family and the public at large. Failing to maintain your vehicle can result in a potentially deadly incident with severe consequences for you and other drivers with whom you share the road. If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident due to the negligence of another driver to maintain their vehicle, please call the Law Offices of James O. Cunningham, P.A. today at 877-FL-INJURY (877-354-6587). We are waiting to hear from you.

James O. Cunningham

Since 1977, personal injury lawyer James Cunningham has provided effective legal advocacy to people who are injured through the negligent actions of another person or entity throughout the Central Florida area. He fights to obtain recoveries for his clients’ physical and emotional pain and suffering and pursues his clients’ personal injury cases with a commitment to excellence and impeccable preparation.