One Killed, Three Injured in Horrific Florida Trucking Accident

One man was killed and three others injured recently in a horrific chain reaction accident involving three tractor-trailers, a Jeep and a passenger car. Florida Highway Patrol troopers described a very grim accident scene where the passenger car was wedged beneath one of the trailers and the Jeep was smashed between the two big rigs. Troopers say the accident occurred around 1:15 p.m. when one of the semis, driven by an Orlando man, rear-ended one of the passenger cars and drove it into the other vehicle. The force of impact then caused the truck to push the passenger vehicles into the other trucks.

Troopers say that all five vehicles were northbound on U.S. 27 and all except the tractor-trailer that caused the accident were stopped at a traffic signal at Old Polk City Road waiting for it to change. The driver of the Jeep, a 51-year-old Brandon man, died at the scene from his injuries. The other passenger vehicle, a Nissan Altima driven by a 36-year-old Kissimmee man, transported two passengers. All three had to be extracted from their mangled car by the Jaws of Life. These three were very fortunate in that they were all taken to nearby hospitals, treated for minor injuries and released a short time later.

One witness reported seeing the Jeep move from the left lane of the three northbound lanes into the middle lane behind the Nissan shortly before the accident. He said that the Nissan had already come to a stop behind two other tractor-trailers and the Jeep had also come to a stop when the third truck plowed into the back of the Jeep. The witness told troopers that from his perspective, it appeared that the truck driver who caused the accident had his head down and was not looking in front of him at the time of the accident.

"He never hit his brakes when he hit the back of the Jeep," he said.

If troopers determine that the truck driver was distracted by something in the moments before the accident, he could face a number of different charges including reckless homicide. If so, the family of the deceased and the families of those injured could seek damages against the driver for causing the accident.

Have you or a loved one been injured by a negligent driver? You may be entitled to seek damages to help pay medical bills and compensate you for lost time at work, pain and suffering and other damages. Before you sign any documents, call 888-425-2004 to schedule a free consultation with Orlando auto accident attorney James O. Cunningham. He can launch an immediate investigation into the accident, protect your rights, explain your legal options and work hard to ensure that you get the compensation you deserve. Call today to get an experienced and aggressive Orlando personal injury lawyer on your side!

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.