Five People Killed in Wrong-Way Crash on I-95

By Orlando Personal Injury Attorney on January 22, 2016

On December 31, 2015, a 47-year-old man and his three passengers – all family – were killed in a wrong-way crash incident on I-95. The unfortunate New Year’s Eve accident happened in Miami-Dade County in the interstate’s northbound express lane when a young woman drove her truck south toward three northward sedans.

The wrong-way driver, 23-year-old Alexandra Lefler, was driving her white Ford pickup southbound in the northbound lane around 12:48 am when she struck the right rear region of a Chevy Cobalt and proceeded to crash head-on into a Hyundai Sonata. The Sonata then was struck in the rear by a Kia Optima, which left the express lane as a result and crashed into a northbound Ford tow truck.

The drivers of the Chevy Cobalt and the Kia Optima – 27-year-old Katherine Warsch and 58-year-old Nameer Khattab, respectively – escaped from the incident with only minor injuries, and were treated at Jackson Memorial Hospital and Aventura Hospital & Medical Center. The wrong-way driver and the individuals in the Hyundai were not so lucky, however; all five victims of the head-on collision, including Lefler herself, were declared dead at the scene of the incident. The deceased victims in the Hyundai include 47-year-old Miguel Gil (the Hyundai driver), 52-year-old Jose Martin Labrador, 48-year-old Gisela Gil Egui and 71-year-old Gisela Margarita Egui Hernandez.

The Florida Highway Patrol is still investigating the incident, and authorities have not yet determined what actually caused Lefler to drive the wrong way on the highway. It is uncertain where she got onto the highway and whether alcohol played a role in the incident.

Regardless of the circumstances, victims who’ve been injured in a crash – and/or the family members left behind after a fatality – face a unique set of challenges. If you’ve been in a similar accident, you may be facing legal difficulties and financial issues in addition to your physical ailments. Personal injury attorney James Cunningham has been representing workers injured in construction accidents since 1977, helping victims focus on their physical and emotional health during their time of healing. For knowledgeable, professional legal assistance with your case, contact us today at 877-FL-INJURY (877-354-6587) to set up a free consultation.

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.