A statement from the Florida Highway Patrol released on Wednesday, May 23rd, reported on an incident that took place earlier on that same morning along U.S. 92 in Volusia County. According to this statement, a woman who was not named was behind the wheel of a 2015 Dodge Dart as she approached Brick Road. It was close to 8:30 in the morning, and at the same time as the woman in the Dart closed in on the intersection she also closed in on a front-end loader/tractor that was making its way down the road at a much slower pace.
While it is not uncommon for such vehicles to use the road for brief stretches of time (especially in areas with greater agriculture or other such projects), it is essential that the drivers of these vehicles take care to make their machine as noticeable as possible. Flashing hazard lights are the most common way that drivers of slower vehicles such as tractors and front-end loaders alert other motorists to their presence. It is not known if the driver of the tractor had initiated the hazard lights on their vehicle prior to the collision on Wednesday.
It is also not known why the woman in the Dodge Dart did not see the tractor. It is possible that she was distracted in the moments leading up to the crash. It is also possible that the tractor was driving behind a bend in the road, making it so that the woman could not see the slower vehicle until it was too late. Regardless of the reasons, the woman crashed her car into the rear of the tractor while still traveling at full speed.
9-1-1 was called immediately after the collision took place and paramedics and members of the Florida Highway Patrol arrived at the location of the incident shortly afterwards. While the driver of the tractor did not suffer from any injuries as a result of the collision, the report indicated that the woman in the Dodge received extremely severe injuries as a result of the collision, and she was ultimately declared dead at the scene.
Members of the Florida highway Patrol are currently in the process of investigating the collision. It is not known if any charges are pending against the driver of the tractor.
James O. Cunningham
Since 1977, personal injury lawyer James Cunningham has provided effective legal advocacy to people who are injured through the negligent actions of another person or entity throughout the Central Florida area. He fights to obtain recoveries for his clients’ physical and emotional pain and suffering and pursues his clients’ personal injury cases with a commitment to excellence and impeccable preparation.
If you or someone you love has been injured in a vehicle accident, call at (386) 243-4994.
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