Florida crash kills visiting college students
Two women visiting from out-of-state are dead following an auto accident in the Florida Panhandle. Authorities say that at least seven other people, including the victims' two friends, were injured in the two-vehicle crash, which happened shortly after 11 a.m. Police say the victims and their two friends, all females, were college students returning home after spending their spring break in the state. It is unclear whether any individuals involved in the wreck will face criminal charges or civil lawsuits. Investigators say they have ruled out alcohol as a potential factor in the crash.
Troopers from the Florida Highway Patrol say the serious car accident occurred when one of the victims lost control of her vehicle for an unknown reason, causing it to drift across the center lane and into oncoming traffic. The woman then reportedly jerked the car back into the proper lane, over-correcting and causing the vehicle to spin out and enter the path of a nearby pickup truck. The two vehicles then violently collided, killing the two 21-year-old students. The FHP reports that both women were wearing seat belts at the time of the crash.
The two other college students, both age 22, were transferred to a regional medical center to be treated for injuries. One of the women was in stable condition at last report, while the other was in guarded condition. The truck's 26-year-old driver was taken to a different hospital for treatment as were four of his passengers. Police say the truck's occupants were also from outside of Florida, though they did not state whether they were also in Florida to celebrate spring break.
Car accidents kill and injure thousands of motorists in Florida every year. In some cases, these accidents are preventable tragedies caused by negligent or unsafe driving. Victims of such crashes may be able to claim damages compensating them for their pain and suffering by filing a personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit with the help of an experienced attorney.
Source: Cleveland.com, "2 Ohio State students from Northeast Ohio killed, 2 others injured in Florida spring-break accident," March 18, 2013