Personal Injury Law

Five Killed in North Florida Auto Wrecks Over 12 Hours

By Eddie Farah

North Florida roads saw four separate wrecks early Friday that took five lives and injured several others.

The worst auto accident occurred in Putnam County. The Florida Highway Patrol reports that a 2004 Cadillac was driving down Bardin Road when the car went off the road and struck a tree then caught fire. Three young passengers ages 17, 18 and 20, all died at the scene. None was wearing a seat belt.

Friends and well wishers dropped flowers and cards at the scene of the accident at the corner of Comer Road west of Palatka, Florida.

2 a.m. in Duval County in Jacksonville, a car carrying seven people from Middleburg hit  a guardrail after losing control of the car. A 13-year old in the backseat was thrown out of the car and died at the scene. The 31-year old driver was hospitalized with serious injuries as were the five others in the car.   Alcohol is suspected in the accident.

Also early Friday a 43-year old driver veered off State Road 13 in St. Johns County and hit two trees and died at the scene. FHP says he was traveling at a high rate of speed and didn't make it around a curve. He was not wearing a seat belt and was thrown out of the car.

The entire deadly streak of wrecks began Thursday afternoon when  a 79-year old man on an electric scooter pulled into the path of a car in  Lake City. 

He was transported to the hospital where he died.  Charges could be pending in that case after further investigation.

Full post as published by Jacksonville Personal Injury Lawyer on April 18, 2008 (boomark / email).