Tragedy struck on the Florida's Turnpike in Broward County yesterday afternoon when a multi-vehicle crash resulted in one fatality and eight injuries. According to NBC Miami, the Southbound lanes near Griffin Road became the site of a devastating scene around 2:30 p.m., where a white van was among several vehicles that sustained significant damage, alongside what appeared to be a body covered by a yellow tarp.
WSVN reported at least three people were extracted from the van while the accident prompted an extensive response from Davie, Plantation, and Broward Sheriff's Fire Rescue teams, in addition to the Florida Highway Patrol, the collision's aftermath left the highway nearly completely congested, with only one southbound lane open as of 3:30 p.m.
Officials at the scene confirmed the crash claimed the life of one female; the Florida Highway Patrol detailed one of the eight transported to local hospitals was an infant. Aerial footage captured by Chopper 6 revealed the carnage that led to a complete halt of traffic, bringing the Turnpike's usual flow to a painful standstill.
Seven of the eight patients were transported via ambulance, while air rescue was deployed to airlift a critical patient to Broward General Hospital, the injuries ranging in severity, the identities of the victims have yet to be disclosed. 7News cameras caught glimpses of the frustrated drivers stopped on the Turnpike, authorities advising commuters to seek alternative routes through Interstate-95 or University Drive to avoid the gridlock.
