MAY 29, 2015
PEMBROKE PINES, FLA. (WSVN)
Authorities continue to investigate a fatal multi-vehicle
crash that left two drivers dead Thursday night and shutdown the southbound
lanes of Interstate 75 for several hours afterward.
Friday morning, the two victims killed in the crash that
involved two cars and two tractor-trailer trucks, were identified as
17-year-old Liza Angulo and 29-year-old Jonathan Raymon Astaphan. Both were
from Miramar.
Angulo recently graduated American Heritage School where she
made quite an impression. "She was an honors student," said American
Heritage School Principal Elise Blum. "She was a good student in
challenging classes. She was loved by all her teachers. She was very involved
in the yearbook."
Domenick Feliciano, a friend of Angulo said, "Liza was
a really kind person. She was a down-to-earth girl. She just put a smile on the
face of everyone she was around."
Tihun Lowe said, "She was feisty. She was lively. She
was amazing. I love her."
The Florida Highway Patrol said the accident happened near
the Pines Boulevard exit, just after 11:30 p.m. Thursday. According to FHP, a
semi-truck loaded with concrete barrier walls was pulling out of a construction
site onto the southbound lanes of I-75 when it was hit by a Mitsubishi driven
by Astaphan.
The Mitsubishi slid under the truck, ripping off its roof,
killing Astaphan instantly. A female passenger in that car, identified as
Patricia Rolle, was transported to Memorial Regional Hospital and remains in
serious condition. FHP Sgt. Mark Wysocky said it was a miracle she was alive
when rescuers responded to the scene. "It's amazing that she even survived
at all," he noted, "because the way you saw the car, it's amazing
that anyone would have survived out of that car."
Following that, Angulo crashed into the rear of the
semi-truck loaded with concrete barriers. Part of that load fell onto her white
BMW, killing her instantly. "As part of the crash, the wall sections came
over onto the top of one vehicle," said Wysocky.
FHP said the chain reaction crash ended with another
semi-truck crashing into one of the barrier walls that fell on the road. That
truck then also crashed into the trailer. The drivers of the two semis were not
injured.
Friends of Angulo showed up to the scene after they say her
mom was worried that she hadn't returned home yet. "My friend text me
about there's a really bad accident on I-75, and he didn't know what
happened," said Lowe, "so he asked on the app if there's a white BMW,
and no one responded. He told me, 'Go check it out' because he had a bad
feeling about it.
"I called them to tell them, 'Can you guys check the
area?' I'm going on 75, and the first thing I saw when I came on 75 was a bad
accident, and it was a white car. I started calling the construction workers
asking them if it was a BMW, and they said it was and then everything just went
downhill from there."
Friends said Angulo got the BMW as a graduation gift from
her parents. They also said she was planning to attend the University of Miami
in the fall.
The school's principal described the teen as an intelligent
and caring young lady with a bright future ahead of her. "She touched
many, many people on this campus," said Blum, "because she was not
only good as a student, she was a good person. She was kind to everybody."
FHP continues to investigate, including looking into whether
the barriers were properly secured on the truck and if the tragedy could have
been prevented.
Here is what commenters wrote (unedited):
I warned State Highways and called FHP and State Highway
repeatedly about this issue, there is no acceleration/deacceleration lanes,
project is not being done safely, FHP Ignored my requests, I have called 911
several times, entering a interstate road at 15-20 MPH would be negligent
driving in any other state! I told them this was going to happen! Somebody
should file a lawsuit against the state! No signaling when entering, crossing
five lanes of interstate @ 15 MPH. Dust clouds blocking driver view,
construction vehicles facing oncoming traffic at night with headlights on
temporarily blinding oncoming traffic. Not in compliance with MUTCD (Federal
Law), further I also notified (FHWA).
I completely agree. I travel this road all the time around
the same time this happened, and it's utterly dangerous, and the trucks
entering the highway are careless. The reason they're careless, is because they
see their vehicle as just a job, and know that if anything comes colliding into
them, they'll be fine, and the worst case is their employer gets the brunt of
it with law suits. There needs be more accountability and precaution when
foregoing construction jobs like this, especially late night with the blinding
lights and debris blowing everywhere. At 11:30 PM on this road, the traffic is
near none, and in order for an accident like this to occur, it's almost certain
that the truck driver was negligent about safety and should thoroughly be
investigated.
Our cars are equipped with many safety devices these days,
that are there for our safety.... such is the windshield, is there for you, to
be on the look out for your on coming traffic, and to protect you from flying
objects and other hazard things. At the same time.. moving the foot from the
gas, will slow down the car, which in case you are paying attention.. will save
your life. The phone is not part of the car in any way or shape what so ever...
texting will pull away from the pesky oncoming traffic and the trucks... trucks
are huuughes and can't be missed.. if you missed a truck.. trust you weren't on
looking through your windshield. In construction site the posted speed is
usually 45 to 55mph, which the numbers were selected not to harass you.. but
they are selected based on the weight and the speed of your car. You can stop a
car in less than 5 seconds if you slam on the brakes, the moment your brain
interpreted danger at that speed. Stop accusing others of your irresponsible
driving and take account of your actions.. if you are not part of the solution,
then you are part of the problem.. btw.. truck drivers are very courteous, and
they are professionals, and they do know what they are drive...
Completely avoidable. Smells like a massive industrial
accident lawsuit. Dump trucks and flat beds entering a 70 mph high-speed
roadway without acceleration lanes? Vehicles traveling in the lanes at legal
speeds have had to swerve and taken evasive action to avoid collisions. All
construction needs to STOP immediately until corrective action is taken to
avoid a repeat. We all knew it wasn't a matter of "if" a massive
wreck would happen, but "when." Why weren't the concrete dividers
secured on the flatbed? I fault the construction company and the approving
authority, probably FDOT.
While distracted driving i.e. texting, talking, holding a
dog on your lap, eating, applying makeup contribute to most wrecks, driving on
I-75 even while completely attentive will not help if a truck suddenly pulls
out in front of you. You slow down for the truck, then the driver behind you
slams into you.
How sad that two young lives had to be lost in order to
highlight an issue known to the motoring public and should have been
anticipated by those in charge. Pray for the familes of those lost. RIP