A traffic nightmare unfurled in Miami Wednesday morning when a woman in her 70s was struck by a car that an 18-wheeler had just slammed into from behind. The chain-reaction crash sent the car careening onto the sidewalk, violently colliding with the pedestrian. Local 10 News reports the incident occurred at 7:22 a.m. in the 1700 block of Northwest 27th Avenue near a drawbridge.
While the elderly victim was rushed to Jackson Memorial Hospital's Ryder Trauma Center, her condition remains unclear. The driver of the car suffered minor injuries, being transported to the same facility, Miami Herald stated. With southbound lanes of the Northwest 27th Avenue bridge shut down following the accident, traffic was funneled into a congested snarl for hours.
In a statement obtained by the Miami Herald, Officer Michael Vega of the Miami police said the collision happened at Northwest 27th Avenue and Northwest 17th Street. Police provided chilling images of the wreckage, depicting a battered silver car hoisted onto the sidewalk, its structure marred by the violence of the impact.
As authorities worked the scene, Miami police issued a traffic alert, advising motorists to avoid the area and suggesting NW 22 Avenue as an alternate route, according to their post on X. The traffic ramifications were immediate, stalling commuters and wrapping drivers in a web of standstill frustration.
TRAFFIC ALERT: Due to a traffic crash involving 2 vehicles and a pedestrian, the 27 Avenue bridge southbound lanes have been closed at NW 20 Street. Please avoid this area and use NW 22 Avenue as an alternate route. MV pic.twitter.com/U878lmM3A9
— Miami PD (@MiamiPD) April 24, 2024
The investigation is ongoing, and at this time, it remains unreported whether the driver of the 18-wheeler has been cited in connection with the crash.
