Orlando Man Miraculously Alive after 4-Ton Metal Object Rolls off Overpass
An Orlando resident named Jesus A. Escobar narrowly survived a harrowing and bizarre accident on Saturday morning after an enormous piece of metal toppled off of an overpass and landed directly on top of the van he was driving. The Florida Highway Patrol has issued a statement saying that they were first alerted to a crash along the westbound lanes of Interstate 4. According to the statement, a tractor-trailer pulling a load of scrap metal was attempting to turn off of the interstate and onto State Road 528 when the driver of the truck lost control of the vehicle, which caused it to collide with a guardrail and flip over.
When the truck toppled onto its side, a four-ton piece of scrap fell out of the trailer and off the edge of the I-4 overpass. At this time, Escobar just happened to be driving by. The metal chunk landed on top of his car, crushing the roof and smashing all the windows. Somehow, Escobar managed to survive the ordeal, even though the pictures from the site clearly show the 4-ton object lying across the driver’s side of the car. The Florida Highway Patrol stated that Escobar was transported to Orlando Regional Medical Center, however it is believed that he only suffered from minor injuries and that his release is imminent.
Escobar was the only person in the van at the time of the accident. It is believed that, had he been travelling with anyone else, they would have died immediately after the impact of the scrap metal.
The driver of the tractor-trailer, a Kissimmee resident named Antonio Santiago Wharton, received a citation due to his careless driving. It is not known whether or not any further charges are expected to be filed against him.
While the Florida Highway Patrol cleaned up the scene of the accident, the ramp leading from westbound I-4 to State Road 528 was closed. It is believed that the emergency cleanup crews were able to remove all debris within only a few hours, and the road was reopened shortly afterward.
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.