On March 19, the driver who is alleged to have caused a fatal accident in Deerfield Beach, Florida, was cited with careless driving by the Florida Highway Patrol. Four occupants of a Lexus SUV were killed when the driver of a Nissan Altima sideswiped his car into a Hyundai Sonata, causing it to crash into the Lexus. The Lexus then smashed through a chain-link fence before it landed in a lake.
Three occupants of the Lexus were pulled from the lake on the night of the auto accident. They were taken to Broward Health North for treatment, and two of them were pronounced dead there. Rescuers were not aware that there was a fourth occupant in the SUV until later that night, and they were not able to recover her body until the following morning. Hundreds attended a memorial service in honor of the four passengers.
Although the driver of the Altima was cited for careless driving, it is apparent that neither alcohol nor drugs played a role in the crash. A representative from the Florida Highway Patrol said that there is “nothing to substantiate a criminal charge.” His hearing for the citation is scheduled for April 9.
When people who are killed leave behind family and friends to mourn their loss and when injured parties face medical expenses, rehabilitation and permanent disability, personal injury attorneys may be able to help people recover compensation for their pain and suffering. In Florida, people who have been injured and families who have lost loved ones may wish to consult personal injury attorneys who may explain their rights and options and recommend courses of action.
Source: Sun Sentinel, “Florida Highway Patrol: Driver cited in crash that killed four in Deerfield Beach,” Erika Pesantes, March 26, 2013