Three Dead in Four-Car Crash in Osceola County
A massive crash in Osceola County on Saturday, October 13th, resulted in the death of three individuals, all of whom were standing outside of their vehicles at the time. According to the Florida Highway Patrol, the entire incident stemmed from a single-car crash that then developed into a four-vehicle debacle that involved pedestrians.
It was close to 9:30 at night when a 2007 Toyota Camry was driving down the northern lanes of an Osceola County stretch of the Florida Turnpike. Inside of the car were two people: a 44-year-old and a 13-year-old. For reasons that are not known, the 44-year-old lost control of their car around mile marker 191. The car left the roadway, entered the right shoulder, and collided with the guardrail. When the car finally came to a stop, it was back in the roadway, straddling two different lanes. It is not clear if the car was completely immobilized or if the driver was simply too shaken to begin driving again, but they did not move the car from the roadway before exiting the vehicle.
At this time, a second car, a 1999 Ford F-150 approached the area. The driver of the Ford saw the disabled Camry and pulled off of the roadway and onto the shoulder to offer assistance. The driver of the Ford and the two people from the Camry were then standing together in the median of the turnpike when a third car, a 2009 Mercedes-Benz C300, neared the area.
For reasons that are not currently clear, the driver of the Mercedes did not notice the disabled Camry or the pedestrians until it was too late. When they did see the car, they swerved in an attempt to avoid striking it. Their chosen direction took them straight into the median where the three people were standing. The Mercedes struck all three of the pedestrians, inflicting fatal injuries upon them.
A fourth car, a 2007 Volkswagen Golf, also became involved in the crash when they too failed to see the collision and swerved to avoid the Camry. Despite the efforts of the Golf’s driver, they still collided with the Camry, and this crash caused them to ricochet into the F-150 as well. It was not clear if the Golf also struck the pedestrians.
While the three standing outside of their vehicles were all killed in the incident, none of the drivers or passengers in the other two vehicles suffered from any injuries.
An investigation into the crash remains underway.
Sources:
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.