KEANASVILLE, Fla. — The Florida Turnpike reopened Tuesday afternoon after being closed for hours following a crash that killed three people.
The crash happened when a FedEx semitractor-trailer rear-ended two vehicles in Osceola County early Tuesday morning, stated the Florida Highway Patrol.
- Some of those involved in crash have been identified
- Those who died have not been ID'd
- Investigation is ongoing
At around 12:40 a.m., a 2003 Mitsubishi four-door vehicle, driven by Alexander Molina, 31, was traveling at about 5 mph with a flat tire on the right lane near mile marker 217 near Kenansville. Behind Molina was a Ford Explorer, which was following the Mitsubishi at a low speed, explained the FHP in a news release.
The Explorer was driven by Miami resident Sergio Caceres Baca, 30.
A FedEx semitractor-trailer, driven by 57-year-old Lori McMillan of West Palm Beach, was traveling behind the two vehicles at a normal speed and did not realize the other vehicles were going slow. McMillan rear-ended the Explorer, then hit the back of the Mitsubishi, causing the trailer to jackknife, FHP Lt. Kim Montes said.
According to video from the FedEx truck, troopers say the Mitsubishi and Explorer had their four-way emergency flashers activated prior to the crash.
"Three occupants of the Ford Explorer were pronounced deceased on scene," Montes described in a news release.
In the original news release, Montes stated that there were three other people in the Explorer who were transported to three hospitals, but in the updated news release, the FHP does not list any surviving passengers.
The three dead have not been identified, but two of the three passengers' ages have been released: 55 and 53. All three are from Miami and were not wearing their seatbelts, stated the FHP.
Baca was taken to the Orlando Regional Medical Center for serious injuries.
Molina and McMillian had minor injuries, but they did not go to the hospital, Montes stated.
All southbound lanes were closed for several hours and were diverted off of U.S. 192. Before 11:30 a.m., the Florida's Turnpike was reopened.