Multi-Car Turnpike accident
A driver failing to stop their vehicle for other stopped traffic on the Florida turnpike led to one woman’s death on Saturday, November 28, 2020.
Authorities say traffic was actually stopped around mile marker 173 due to an unrelated accident further down the turnpike, just outside Vero Beach. A vehicle coming up on this stopped traffic kept going and crashed into a pickup truck. A 63-year-old woman from Greenacres, a passenger in the pickup, was pronounced dead at the scene.
The pickup’s driver, a 75-year-old man, also from Greenacres, was seriously injured and was taken to a local hospital for treatment. Meanwhile, the collision sent the pickup truck into a third vehicle, leading to six different vehicles ultimately sustaining damage from the wreck.
Multi-car pileup on Turnpike: What happened?
Authorities are still investigating the crash, but there are many reasons this type of accident happens. Distracted driving is not only a common cause of failure to stop accidents, but also one of the most common causes of car wrecks in Florida.
“Distracted driving” doesn’t just describe drivers who are temporarily distracted by their phone or text messaging – drivers can be distracted by any number of stimuli that takes their attention off the road. That might include passengers, eating and drinking, or anything else, may not notice a situation where they need to stop until it’s too late.
Speeding is common cause of failure to stop crashes, as it can be hard to stop in time if the vehicle is going too fast. Impaired driving may also play a role in failure to stop accidents.
A state investigative report is triggered anytime there is a fatality as the result of a car crash, and the coming report from this crash will likely be extensive considering the many vehicles involved. The surviving family will want to obtain a copy of that report, which they are entitled to; but reading and understanding the report and it’s many nuances, as well as investigating what available insurance coverage may be available for compensation is work best left to a competent wrongful death law firm.