Wrongful death can occur anywhere. In a tragic introduction to a holiday week, car accidents caused by out of control vehicles have claimed seven lives in Miami, including three members of a single family and two church leaders.
The deadliest of the crashes happened in Little Havana last Saturday when a van crashed into a family from Georgia walking to their car after an afternoon baseball game at the new Marlins Park. The family was on the sidewalk when they were struck by the van. Of those killed were a 13-year-old girl, a 14-year-old boy, a 50-year-old woman and the driver of the out of control minivan. All were pronounced dead at Jackson Memorial Hospital, according to authorities. A surviving 10-year-old girl was in extremely critical condition Sunday night and a fifth family member, a man in his 60s who was unhurt but witnessed the horrific accident and was overcome with grief, was also hospitalized.
The driver of the van was identified as Raul Herberto Ortega, 67, and is believed to have suffered a heart attack just before losing control of his red 2006 Dodge Caravan, police said.
At approximately the same time in Liberty City, two more deaths occurred. Two church leaders stopped to have something to eat at Jumbo’s Restaurant, a landmark in the city. While they were standing outside, a pick-up truck sped by and flew out of control, slamming into the pair. As a result of the crash, one of the victims was “sent flying into the restaurant as the truck pushed one of the victims’ parked vehicle into the restaurant’s front wall, shattering three window panels and leaving a gaping hole.” The driver of the pick-up, Antonio Lawrence, 53, was charged with two counts of DUI manslaughter and was being held in jail on $30,000 bond.
The seventh victim in the flurry of fatal crashes died around 1 a.m. Sunday morning in Pembroke Pines. Police said “a white, two-door Nissan spun out of control, hit the curb and slammed into a concrete utility pole near the Shops at Pembroke Gardens, in the 900 block of Southwest 145th Avenue.” The impact split the vehicle in half which caused the front-seat passenger to be ejected from the vehicle. He died at the scene. Police did not identify him, but said he was 22 years old. The driver, 21-year-old Kevin Singh, was hospitalized and is said to have non-life threatening injuries.
If you or someone you know has been injured or killed in a car accident, you will benefit from speaking with a good personal injury lawyer or wrongful death lawyer. Call one of the Myrtle Beach personal injury attorneys at The Mace Firm. Our experienced Myrtle Beach lawyers are ready to speak with you about your case.
