Florida has a very broad definition of what circumstances must exist for a driver to be charged with vehicular homicide. Most states will bring these charges against a driver if their manner of handling the vehicle led to the death of another person. However, Florida also makes provisions for vehicular homicide charges in the case of the death of an unborn child. Even if everyone seems to walk away from an accident without injuries, if a person dies internal injuries after an accident, the at-fault driver could be charged with vehicular homicide. In Florida, vehicular homicide is either a first- or a second-degree felony, depending upon the circumstances. Second-degree charges can result in a prison sentence of up to 15 years while first-degree charges can result in up to 30 years.
U.S. News reports that a Florida man has been killed after a crash resulted in a vehicle fire in Philadelphia.
The crash occurred at about 2:30 a.m. on Wednesday in the eastbound lanes of the Schuylkill Expressway.
Authorities allege that 19-year-old Abdul Johnson-Selby was driving in the eastbound lanes of the expressway. He missed his exit and attempted to back up, but lost control of the vehicle.
A tractor-trailer also traveling eastbound then hit the vehicle before slamming into the concrete barrier on the right side of the roadway. The tractor-trailer was carrying a load of produce.
The collision with the car sent Johnson-Selby’s vehicle spinning into the far-left lane. Johnson-Selby and two female passengers were injured in the crash.
The driver of the truck, which caught fire following the collision with the concrete barrier, was killed. The driver was identified as a 54-year-old male from Florida.
Johnson-Selby and his passengers were taken into custody when they sought treatment for undisclosed injuries at a nearby hospital.
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