INDIAN RIVER COUNTY - At least four people died and several others were taken to nearby hospitals when a crash on Interstate 95 was followed by a series of collisions involving five vehicles early Monday, a fire rescue official said.
A child and three adults were among those declared dead at the crash site while six others were transported to hospitals and trauma centers, said an Indian River County Fire Rescue official.
“All we saw were multiple vehicles involved and multiple patients,” said Assistant Fire Chief Bill Herrington.
Among those who died at the scene were a boy, 7, of Palm Bay; a woman, 40, of Palm Bay; a woman, 37, of Miami, and a man, 40, of Miami, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
The Miami residents were sole occupants of two vehicles, while six Palm Bay residents were occupants of a crossover utility vehicle.
The vehicles involved included a gray 2022 Chrysler Pacifica, a blue 2009 Toyota Camry, a green 2001 Suzuki Vitara, a gray 2012 Dodge Journey and a black 2006 Freightliner tractor trailer.
The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating the crashes, which were reported at 2:15 a.m. in the northbound lanes just south Fellsmere and County Road 512.
According to the agency, a northbound Toyota Camry driven by a Miami woman struck the rear of a Suzuki Vitara driven by a Miami man causing the two vehicles to become disabled on the interstate.
A northbound Dodge Journey struck the disabled Suzuki and also became disabled and stopped at perpendicular angle along the three-lane highway.
The drivers of the Toyota and Suzuki were outside their vehicles in the highway helping those inside the Dodge CUV, when a tractor trailer struck the left side of the Dodge, striking them and leading to further impacts with the Suzuki and Toyota.
A person inside the Dodge was thrown outside the vehicle.
The crash was followed by another collision when a Chrysler van driven by a Canadian man and woman passenger struck the rear of the Toyota Camry while swerving to avoid the wreckage.
The truck driver refused medical treatment, said Herrington, and was allowed to leave, according to the FHP.
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Corey Arwood is a breaking news reporter for TCPalm and Treasure Coast Newspapers. Follow @coreyarwood on X, email corey.arwood@tcpalm.com or call 772-978-2246 .
This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: 4 people dead, several hospitalized following five-vehicle crash on Interstate 95
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