Early Tuesday, three people were killed in a crash involving three vehicles on the Florida Turnpike in Osceola County.
Details of the Fatal Florida Turnpike Accident
The crash occurred in the southbound lanes of the Turnpike near Kenansville, about 30 miles south of Kissimmee, and was reported at 12:40 am. The Southbound lanes were shut down at U.S. Highway 192, where drivers were forced to exit, and were reopened at 11:30 am.
The driver, 57 year-old Lori McMillan, was driving at 5 mph in a 2003 Mitsubishi due to a flat tire. 30 year-old Sergio Caceres Bacas, was driving a Ford Explorer at around the same speed directly behind the Mitsubishi, according to State Troopers.
31 year-old Alexander Molina of Nebraska, driving a FedEx big rig with double trailer at normal speed, approached the SUVs. Not realizing the vehicles were driving so slowly, the semi struck the rear of the Ford Explorer and then the back of Mitsubishi before jackknifing.
A 55 year-old man and woman, and a 53 year-old woman in the Ford Explorer were not wearing seatbelts, and were ejected from the vehicle and died.
Troopers said a 55-year-old woman and a man who were not wearing seat belts were ejected from the Ford Explorer and died. A 53-year-old woman in the Ford Explorer who was also not wearing a seat belt died in the crash, a report said.
Caceres Bacas was taken to Orlando Regional Medical Center in serious condition. He had a seat belt on at the time of the crash.
McMillian and Molina suffered minor injuries.
Traffic was backed up on U.S. 192, where another crash happened while traffic was being rerouted, officials said.
National Traffic Accident Statistics
According to the latest available data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA):
- 35,485 people were killed in auto accidents in the United States in 2016, marking a 5.6-percent increase from 2015.
- Of those killed in auto accidents in 2016:
- 22,639 were occupants of passenger vehicles
- 5,495 were pedestrians
- 5,029 were motorcyclists
- 829 were pedalcyclists
- 665 were occupants of large trucks
- 235 were listed as other or unknown
- Injury estimates for the year have not yet been made available.
Contact an Experienced Auto Accident Attorney
If you or a loved one have been injured in a car crash, contact Thomas J. Henry. Our experienced auto accident attorneys have experience handling a multitude of injury accidents, no matter how severe the crash or injury. You may be entitled to compensation for your damages if another driver acted negligently. Our firm has the experienced lawyers and financial resources that you need to achieve the real results you deserve.
Our firm has offices in Corpus Christi, San Antonio, Dallas, Austin, and Houston, serving clients across Texas and nationwide. Call us today for a free case review — attorneys are available 24/7, nights and weekends. If you cannot make it to our office, we can visit you at your home, in the hospital, or at work.
