Statistics reveal that most drivers will be involved in at least one accident in their lifetime. However, a little knowledge about the top causes of car accidents and how to avoid these situations may help you arrive home safely. There are about 350,000 car accidents in Florida each year. Speeding is one of the top causes of these accidents. Distracted driving is another major cause of the accident. It is illegal to text and drive in Florida, but the problem persists. Both speeding and distracted driving can lead to crashes where a driver fails to notice a vehicle in front of them has stopped or slowed and rear ends the vehicle.
The Villages reports that one person has been killed in a five-car pileup when traffic had slowed for another crash.
The crash happened at approximately 10:16 a.m. on the Florida Turnpike on Friday, December 27th just north of Mile Marker 303. Traffic was congested at the time due to an accident involving two semi-trucks at Mile Marker 307.
32-year-old Anthony Melo was driving a 2014 Chevrolet Equinox when he failed to slow for the traffic. He collided with the rear of a 2019 Nissan Sentra driven by 53-year-old Luis Strubbe. A chain-reaction crash was initiated.
Strubbe hit a 2019 Jeep Compass, which then hit a 2016 Honda Accord. Melo’s SUV then went off the roadway, struck a guardrail, and slammed into a 2015 Mitsubishi Mirage.
52-year-old Terasita Noriega, who was a passenger in Strubbe’s vehicle was rushed to Leesburg Regional Medical Center where she was pronounced dead. Strubbe suffered from minor injuries and was treated at a local hospital.
All seven people involved in the crash were wearing seatbelts. Alcohol is not believed to have been a factor in the crash.