MARION COUNTY, FL (352today.com) – The Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) says a van carrying five people crashed on Interstate 75 (I-75) Wednesday killing two and injuring the three others.
The accident happened on I-75 southbound at mile marker 365 in Marion County around 10:20 a.m.
Troopers say the van was in the middle lane of the interstate 75 and a tractor trailer was in the outside lane.
FHP says the van switched lanes in front of the 18-wheeler, causing the right rear of the van to hit the left front tire of the tractor-trailer. Troopers say though the impact was minor, the van drove off the roadway, struck several trees and then caught on fire.
Troopers say all of the people in the van were from Miami. Their injuries were as follows:
- Driver: 49-year-old woman – dead
- Passenger: 15-year-old boy – dead
- Passenger: 23-year-old woman – serious
- Passenger: 2-year-old boy – minor
- Passenger: 1-year-old girl – minor
Troopers say the two youngest children were in child safety seats but they don’t know if the two adults and the teen had their seatbelts fastened.
The 18-wheeler was driven by a 60-year-old man from Douglasville, GA. He was not injured in the accident.