Losing loved ones in car accidents is naturally traumatizing. However, when it happens at this time of the year, the holidays will always be a sad reminder of the tragedy. Such an accident occurred in Florida when three siblings and a cousin were traveling home after seeing a spectacular Christmas light display.
According to a preliminary accident report, an 18- and 21-year-old brother and sister were in the front seats of a car. Their 13-year-old brother and a 17-year-old cousin were in the rear seats. Reportedly, they were following their parents’ vehicle on Interstate 95. The out-of-state family missed their off-ramp, not expecting the catastrophe that would unfold.
In a press conference, police reported that they were in pursuit of a suspect who was fleeing an armed carjacking. As the chase proceeded onto I-95, the suspect turned off the vehicle’s headlights and drove at speeds exceeding 110 miles per hour. At about 7 p.m., the suspect made an unexpected U-turn and continued, facing oncoming traffic, causing the fatal head-on collision.
The siblings in the front seat were both killed on impact, while paramedics rushed the two younger passengers to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Reportedly, the wrong-way driver had a criminal history comprising of over 200 pages, including 50 prior arrests and eight previous incarcerations, among other crimes. Regardless of the criminal case’s outcome against the suspect, the surviving family members of the deceased siblings and the injured teenagers could pursue financial relief. They can do this by filing personal injury and wrongful death lawsuits in a Florida civil court.