TITUSVILLE, Florida — Four girls were killed after being thrown from an SUV during a crash on I-95 east of Orlando, Florida. A toddler who was also thrown from the vehicle over a 30-ft. sound barrier wall survived.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, 34-year-old Latorya Brown of Leesburg, Florida was driving a 2006 Dodge Durango sports utility vehicle with 11 occupants northbound on I-95 near mile marker 220 around 6:30 p.m. on Memorial Day.
The Durango is designed to only seat a total of eight occupants. FHP troopers determined that two occupants were seated in the front, and six passengers were seated in the second and third rows of the SUV, for a total of eight. Troopers have not determined how or where the additional three passengers had been situated.
A preliminary investigation has led FHP troopers to believe that a left rear tire tread separated which caused Brown to lose control of the SUV. The Durango then traveled into the southbound grassy shoulder and began to overturn and rollover several times, ejecting four occupants.
15-year-old Amunya Cruz, 13-year-old Niasha Cruz, 10-year-old Nadia Cruz, and Jasmine Cruz, died as a result of the injuries they sustained in the accident.
The fourth occupant to be ejected, a male toddler, was thrown over a nearby sound barrier wall that measures 30 feet in height.
Initially, first responders had not discovered the boy when they arrived at the crash. It was the child’s crying on the other side of the wall that eventually led FHP troopers to him.
The 3-year-old toddler, Keshaen Walker, was transported to Arnold Palmer Children’s Hospital in Orlando where he is listed in stable condition.
Brown, along with the five remaining passengers, were transported to local hospitals with minor injuries. According to FHP, alcohol was not a factor with the driver in the crash.
Northbound traffic on I-95 had been closed near Titusville, Florida for about four hours to allow emergency crews to tend to the crash victims and for FHP troopers to investigate the crash scene.
