Two killed, Port St. Lucie man injured in
Turnpike crash involving a semi-truck and two passenger cars
Michael Allen
12:32 PM, Dec 31, 2014
49 mins ago
OSCEOLA COUNTY — Two people were killed after trying to
avoid a prior crash involving a semi truck on Florida’s Turnpike Wednesday,
Florida Highway Patrol officials said.
At 6:20 a.m., a 2008 Volkswagen Jetta driven by Justin
Hartley, of Port St. Lucie, struck the back of a semi truck at mile marker 202
northbound on the turnpike, Florida Highway Patrol spokeswoman Sgt. Kim Montes
said.
A 52-year-old man driving with a 58-year-old woman and
two dogs inside a 2003 Honda Accord headed northbound, swerved to avoid the
truck and car on the right shoulder of the road.
The Honda swerved left into the grass median, then
swerved back across the northbound lanes, overturning on its driver’s side
before striking the back of the semi truck.
The man, woman and two dogs from Westerville, Ohio, were
pronounced dead at the scene.
Hartley, 30, was transported with serious injuries to
Holmes Regional Medical Center in Melbourne.
The cause of the crash remains under investigation.