Two Accidents on State Road 528 in Orange and Brevard Counties Leave Two Dead, Several in Critical Condition

By Orlando Personal Injury Attorney on March 29, 2017

On Monday, two unconnected incidents on State Road 528 in Orange County left two individuals dead and several others in serious and uncertain conditions at hospitals. According to the report filed by the Florida Highway Patrol, the first of the two accidents took place at close to 9:00 in the morning, close to the 25 mile marker on State Road 528. Traffic had slowed down considerably along the road when Chris Vassas, a 33-year-old, approached the cars. For reasons that are as of yet unclear, Vassas did not slow down or stop for the other cars. Instead, he sloughed into a Pontiac that was before him on the road. The Pontiac, as a result of the impact, was thrust forwards into a Nissan SUV. The Nissan, following the pattern, then collided with a Ford SUV.

The drivers of the Pontiac, the Nissan, and Vassas himself were all rushed to nearby hospitals like the Orlando Regional Medical Center and Florida Hospital East. The 55-year-old woman driving the Pontiac, who has not been named, was declared dead when she arrived at the hospital. Grace Barnes, a 58-year-old, was behind the wheel of the Nissan, and his condition is considered to be quite serious. Vassas is also listed as being in serious condition. The driver of the Ford SUV was the 52-year-old Michael Sabia. According to the report, he was not injured in the incident.

While the authorities were still attempting to piece together the circumstances behind this accident, another car collision happened at 10:15 in the morning, only 25 miles down the road, after State Road 528 enters Brevard County. The statement from the Florida Highway Patrol regarding this second incident outlines how the 38-year-old Thomas Michael Murray lost control of his 2003 Jeep when he accidentally left the road. There was a struggle to regain dominance over the speeding car, but Murray was unable to do so and the Jeep began to flip over.

Murray was not wearing a seatbelt and was subsequently ejected from the car. Emergency response teams rushed him to the hospital, but the injuries he suffered were too great and he was pronounced dead shortly after reaching the Holmes Regional Medical Center. Murray’s passenger, the 36-year-old Lyvonda Mason, was also rushed to the hospital. She is currently listed as being in serious condition at the Wuesthoff Medical Center-Rockledge.

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.