Tragic Marion County Rear-End Collision With Semi Kills Two Family Members

By Orlando Personal Injury Attorney on January 21, 2021

Two family members were killed and one was critically injured on January 19^th, 2021, after their vehicle rear-ended a semi-truck that was hauling rebar along Interstate 75 near the U.S. 27 off-ramp, according to preliminary reports from the Florida Highway Patrol operating within Marion County.

It was approximately 8:30 p.m. Tuesday evening when emergency responders with the Ocala Fire Rescue and Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) were dispatched to the scene of a deadly two-vehicle accident that had occurred in the southbound lanes of I-75 close to the U.S. 27 exit. Within minutes, local Marion County authorities secured the perimeter around the fatal collision as officers with the FHP quickly started to survey the area; shutting down portions of the interstate while the Ocala Fire Rescue attended to the multiple injured victims.

Early investigations from the Florida Highway Patrol indicate that a 49-year-old resident from Anthony, Florida, was driving his big rig along Interstate 75 hauling rebar. Due to the sheer size of the semi’s reinforcement steel load, a portion of the rebar extended past the natural end of the truck…something that isn’t entirely uncommon with large hauls of this size and type. As the tractor-trailer was travelling down the road, a minivan carrying 3 family members from Pennsylvania approached from behind. For reasons that are currently unclear, the minivan rear-ended the semi-truck which caused pieces of rebar to crash through its windshield. The 27-year-old driver and a backseat passenger, his 80-year-old grandmother, were killed on impact. The minivan’s front passenger, the 82-year-old grandfather, was rescued after officers had to break multiple windows and pull him out. He was transported to a local hospital where he remains in serious condition. The semi-truck driver was uninjured in the collision.

Officials stated that the family of three reside in Leola, Pennsylvania, and were on their way to Sarasota when the accident happened.

Since 1977, Orlando auto accident attorney James O. Cunningham has dedicated his life to representing the citizens of Florida. If you or a family member have been injured or killed in a collision, please contact us today at 877-FL-INJURY to schedule a free 30-minute consultation.

Sources:

• 2 killed when minivan runs into truck hauling rebar on I-75 in Ocala

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.