Indian River County - Monday July 1, 2024: Four people are dead and 6 other have been hospitalized following a chaotic overnight crash on I-95 in Indian River County.
The crash was reported to Florida Highway Patrol at 2:15 AM. It happened in the northbound lanes near mile marker 153 in between the Vero Beach and Fellsmere exists.
It began when a Toyota Camry rear-ended a Suzuki Vitara. A Dodge Journey with 4 children and two adults inside then crashed into the Vitara. The drivers of the Camry and Vitara got out of their vehicles, onto the highway, to help those inside Dodge Journey, that’s when a semi-truck slammed into them all.
All northbound lanes of I-95 were shut down following the crash and remained shut down for nearly 12-hours. Northbound traffic was diverted off of I-95 at Exit 147, which is the Vero Beach, SR-60 exit.
The northbound lanes were finally re-opened at 2 PM this afternoon.
5 Vehicles Involved in the Crash
1. 2022 grey Chrysler Pacifica - 2 occupants - 2 hospitalized
- Driver: 27-yr-old male from Ontario, Canada - transported
- Passenger: 25-yr-old female from Ontario, Canada - transported
2. Vehicle – 2009 blue Toyota Camry - 1 occupant - fatal
- Driver: 37-yr-old black female from Miami
3. Vehicle – 2001 green Suzuki Vitara - 1 occupant - fatal
- Driver: 40-yr-old black male from Miami
4. Vehicle - 2012 grey Dodge Journey - 6 occupants - 2 fatal - 4 hospitalized
- Driver: 40-yr-old black female from Palm Bay - fatal
- Passenger: 7-yr-old black male from Palm Bay - fatal
- Passenger: 42-yr-old black male from Palm Bay - transported
- Passenger: 5-yr-old black male from Palm Bay - transported
- Passenger: 9-yr-old black female from Palm Bay – transported St. Mary’s in stable
- Passenger: 2-mth-old black male from Palm Bay - transported
5. Vehicle - 2006 black Freightliner Semi - not injured
- Driver: 63-yr-old Hispanic male from Miami – released from scene
FHP Preliminary Report on the Crash
A Toyota Camry was traveling north in the outside lane of I-95 NB approaching mile marker 153 directly behind a green Suzuki Vitara. For reasons yet to be determined, the front of the Toyota Camry struck the rear end of the Suzuki and both vehicles become disabled in the roadway.
The Dodge Journey was traveling north in the center lane of I-95 NB approaching the disabled vehicles. The front of the Dodge Journey struck the rear end of the Suzuki causing it to become disabled in the center lane perpendicular to the roadway.
The drivers of the Toyota Camry and the Suzuki Vitara exited their vehicles and were in the roadway assisting the occupants of the Dodge Journey.
The Freightliner semi traveling north in the center lane approaches the crash scene and strikes the left side of the Dodge Journey. This collision causes multiple different impacts with the now pedestrians from the Camry and Suzuki, as well as the other three vehicles in the roadway.
The Dodge Journey was propelled north towards the east shoulder of the roadway as well as an occupant that was ultimately ejected. The occupant of the Dodge Journey came to final rest, face down facing north on the east paved shoulder of the roadway. The Dodge Journey came to final rest on the east grass shoulder facing north.
The Freightliner semi swerved left after collision and came to final rest partially in the grass median and on the west paved shoulder facing west.
The Suzuki rotated clockwise and came to final rest facing southwest straddling the outside and center lane lines. The driver of the Toyota Camry and the driver of the Suzuki Vitara were both struck outside of their vehicle as the Freightliner semi passed through the crash scene and consequently suffered fatal injuries.
Following the collision of the Freightliner semi, a Chrysler Pacifica was traveling north in the inside lane approaching the crash scene. The driver of the Chrysler Pacifica swerved left to avoid the disabled vehicles however, the front right corner struck the rear end of the Toyota Camry. The Chrysler Pacifica rotated clockwise after collision and came to final rest facing southeast partially blocking the paved shoulder and inside travel lane.
