Three Separate Fatal Car Accidents over Thanksgiving Weekend end in Florida Canals

This past Thanksgiving weekend, was unfortunately fatal for several drivers in the Miami area. According to a spokesperson for the Florida Highway Patrol, “Thanksgiving is the most dangerous holiday in the United States.” Additionally, “The day before Thanksgiving, fatal accidents increase by 15 percent. That’s why the Florida Highway Patrol is out here, committed to have a high presence and make sure that motorists that are driving to visit their families get there safe.” Highway patrols across the nation made similar pronouncements about increased patrols in an attempt to prevent car accidents.

Curiously, among the serious accidents that happened, there were three where a vehicle crashed and ended up in a canal of some sort, resulting in the death of five individuals.

Thursday

The first of reported on crashes occurred Thursday afternoon when a car crashed in the Deerfield Beach area off of Interstate 95. According to a Florida Highway Patrol spokesperson, at about 12:20 p.m., the car was traveling north on the highyway near Hillsboro Boulevard when it veered off of the road and crashed into a pond. The two men traveling in the car were transported to a local hospital for treatment, but sadly both were pronounced dead shortly thereafter.

Saturday

According to Miami Gardens police, a 33 year old Miami man died after his car crashed into a Miami Gardens canal.

Police stated that they received a call around 3:30 a.m. from a nearby resident saying they heard a large splash in the canal, located at N.W. 15th Avenue and N.W. 155th St. After responding to the scene, paramedics found the man’s body floating in the water and attempted, but were unsuccessful at performing, life-saving resuscitation. According to investigators, there were no other vehicles involved in the incident.

Sunday

The final water related tragedy that occurred over the weekend, according to the Florida Highway Patrol, happened on Sunday afternoon on a clear area of the West Broward stretch of Interstate 75.

What was unique about this accident, is that there was an explanation for why the car crashed. According to the FHP, the tread on a rear tire of the Ford Expedition the couple were traveling in split, sending their SUV into a canal alongside Alligator Alley. The couple was on their way home from a Thanksgiving visit. Later news reports stated that several passing motorists stopped and tried to rescue the couple from the water, but were unsuccessful.

FHP did not state whether the blown out tire was a result of a worn tire or due to some sort of manufacturing defect.

Read More

Self Driving Vehicles Raise Crash Concerns Following Las Vegas Collision, Miami Injury Lawyer Blog, published November 16, 2017

Does Uber Lead to Less DUI Accidents in Miami?, Miami Injury Lawyer Blog, published October 19, 2017