A tragic crash has claimed four lives, including one child, according to local police. Florida authorities responded to the horrific car accident after 9 p.m. on Dec. 14. The driver responsible for the crash was also killed at the scene. 

The accident report states that a young family, consisting of a 22-year-old man, a 20-year-old woman and their 2-year-old daughter, was heading home from a local shopping mall when the accident occurred. Another driver, who has not been identified at this time, was traveling the wrong way on State Road 50. That vehicle struck the other one head-on. 

The unknown driver and the 22-year-old man driving the other vehicle were both killed in the collision. The 20-year-old woman was rushed to a local hospital where she later died of her injuries. The couple’s daughter was transported to a pediatric facility where she, too, later perished. It has been confirmed that the family were all wearing seat belts and that the daughter was secured in a car seat. The driver of the other vehicle was apparently not wearing a seat belt. 

The tragedy of this car accident cannot be understated, and since the driver responsible for the accident also died in the crash, no criminal charges will be filed. However, the family of the victims is entitled under Florida law to file wrongful death suits on behalf of all three of their loved ones against the estate of the driver and any ancillary owners of the vehicle involved. Police evidence of the crash and of the other driver’s culpability will be helpful in making these suits successful in civil court.

Source: orlandosentinel.com, “2-year-old girl, parents killed by wrong-way driver“, Martin E. Comas, Melanie Dostis, Dec. 15, 2014