According to a fire rescue official, a crash on Interstate 95 led to a chain of collisions involving five vehicles early Monday, resulting in the loss of four lives and multiple injuries that required hospitalization.
An official from Indian River County Fire Rescue confirmed that the crash site claimed the lives of three adults and a child, while six others were taken to hospitals and trauma centers for treatment.
Assistant Fire Chief Bill Herrington recounted, “We witnessed numerous vehicles and patients involved in the incident.”
The Florida Highway Patrol reported that a 7-year-old boy from Palm Bay, a 40-year-old woman from Palm Bay, a 37-year-old woman from Miami, and a 40-year-old man from Miami were among the fatalities at the scene.
Two vehicles in Miami were occupied solely by Miami residents, while a crossover utility vehicle was occupied by six residents of Palm Bay.
Five vehicles were involved in the incident, namely a 2022 gray Chrysler Pacifica, a 2009 blue Toyota Camry, a 2001 green Suzuki Vitara, a 2012 gray Dodge Journey, and a 2006 black Freightliner tractor trailer.
At 2:15 a.m., the Florida Highway Patrol initiated an investigation into the accidents that occurred in the northbound lanes, located just south of Fellsmere and County Road 512.
The agency reported that a Miami woman driving a northbound Toyota Camry collided with a Suzuki Vitara driven by a Miami man, resulting in both vehicles becoming disabled on the interstate.
The Suzuki, which was disabled on the highway, was struck by a northbound Dodge Journey. The impact caused the Dodge Journey to become disabled as well, and it ended up stopping perpendicular to the three-lane highway.
While assisting those in a Dodge CUV on the highway, the drivers of Toyota and Suzuki were struck by a tractor trailer on the left side of the Dodge. The impact caused further collisions with the Toyota and Suzuki. Both drivers were outside their vehicles at the time of the accident.
The individual was ejected from the Dodge after the accident.
As soon as the crash occurred, a Canadian man and his female passenger driving a Chrysler van had to swerve to avoid the wreckage and ended up colliding with the rear of the Toyota Camry.
According to the FHP, the truck driver declined medical attention and was permitted to depart, as per Herrington.