The stretch of the Florida Turnpike in southwestern Miami-Dade was marred by a dire weekend, witnessing two fatal crashes that would compel the closure of its southbound lanes, first on Saturday night and then again in the early hours of Sunday morning. The first of the collisions, involving three vehicles, occurred near Bird Road close to the Westwood Lakes and Kendale Lakes neighborhoods, as reported by Local 10. This incident, which produced a chain-reaction crash, left one of the occupants dead after they were struck by an oncoming pickup truck when they had exited their vehicle following the initial collision.
According to Lt. Alex Camacho of the Florida Highway Patrol, following the accident on Saturday, the southbound traffic was diverted onto Southwest 8th Street while the preliminary investigation was underway. In a misfortunate set of events, witnesses heading towards Kendall were caught in a snarl-up that extended from the area west of Florida International University’s main campus on Eighth Street to the area east of HCA Florida Kendall Hospital on Bird Road, lasting several hours.
The second incident was reported in the area of mile marker 12 near the Eureka Drive exit in Cutler Bay, as documented by NBC Miami. It unfolded around 2:15 a.m. on Sunday and involved two vehicles. The aftermath was grim, with the collision leaving one passenger dead after being transported to Jackson South Hospital. Roadblocks were established, and southbound lanes were shut down as troopers and on-site investigators assessed the situation.
Camacho detailed the devastating aftermath of the collisions, stating, "As a result of the secondary crash, one of the occupants who was struck died at the scene, and the other was transported to Kendall Regional Hospital in critical condition," referring to the hospital's former name, HCA Florida Kendall Hospital. The causes of these crashes remain under investigation, and the identities of the deceased have not been released as part of the ongoing inquiries, as reported by Local 10.
Both traffic incidents forced temporary closures on one of Miami-Dade’s crucial arteries, striking a reminder of the fragilities that linger in the brief moments we share on these concrete passageways. Investigations are active and ongoing, as officials seek answers in the wake of tragedy.
