Miami-Dade County, FL – A devastating series of back-to-back wrong-way crashes left two people dead and two others seriously injured early Sunday morning on Florida’s Turnpike near Bird Road, according to the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP).
The crashes occurred around 4 a.m. in the northbound lanes of the Turnpike when two separate wrong-way drivers collided with multiple vehicles, causing a chaotic and deadly chain reaction that shut down traffic for several hours.
First Crash: Head-On Collision Between Honda and Toyota
Investigators said the first collision took place when a blue Honda, traveling south in the northbound lanes, slammed head-on into a silver Toyota near Bird Road.
The violent impact left both vehicles disabled and blocking several lanes. Troopers said the drivers of both the Honda and the silver Toyota were killed instantly in the crash.
Second Crash Follows Moments Later
While the wreckage from the first collision remained in the roadway, a white Toyota, also driving south in the northbound lanes, crashed into the two disabled vehicles and a responding FHP patrol car that had arrived at the scene.
Video posted by the social media account ONLYinDADE captured the moments right before the second crash, showing oncoming headlights barreling toward the accident site.
According to the FHP, the trooper assigned to the incident was outside of their vehicle when the second collision occurred and escaped injury.
Two Victims Airlifted With Serious Injuries
The two occupants inside the white Toyota were airlifted to Kendall HCA Hospital with serious injuries, officials said. Their current conditions have not been released.
In total, four people were directly involved in the pair of wrong-way crashes, not counting the trooper.
Victim Identified by Family
Although the FHP has not publicly released the names of those involved due to the ongoing investigation, one of the victims has been identified by family members as 23-year-old Gustavo Adolfo Palma Romero.
Loved ones described Romero as a young man who “dreamed of building a better family” and said he was just days away from his 24th birthday when he lost his life. His family is devastated and demanding answers about how two separate wrong-way drivers ended up on the same stretch of highway at nearly the same time.
Cause of Wrong-Way Crashes Still Unclear
Authorities said it remains unclear whether the two wrong-way drivers were connected or whether their actions were coincidental. Investigators are also working to determine where each driver entered the Turnpike and whether impairment or fatigue played a role.
Traffic investigators and crash reconstruction experts were at the scene for several hours, collecting evidence and documenting the crash patterns.
Road Closures and Traffic Impact
All northbound lanes of Florida’s Turnpike near Bird Road were shut down for hours, with traffic diverted to Bird Road exits while crews cleared the wreckage. The road has since reopened, but officials are urging drivers to remain alert, especially during late-night and early-morning hours, as per CBS News.
FHP Urges Caution and Public Cooperation
The Florida Highway Patrol is asking anyone who witnessed the crashes or has dashcam footage from around 4 a.m. Sunday near Bird Road to come forward. They hope public input will help them determine the sequence of events and what caused the wrong-way incidents.
FHP officials said this tragedy serves as a reminder of the life-threatening dangers of wrong-way driving, which continues to claim lives across Florida’s highways each year.
What are your thoughts on this heartbreaking incident?
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