A 21-year-old fine arts student at Carnegie Mellon University was killed last week in a fatal car crash in Florida. Four other passengers in the vehicle were injured and the Florida Highway Patrol has been investigating the incident to determine if the driver fell asleep at the wheel.
The fatal car accident occurred Friday, Mar. 25 on Interstate 95. Nine students had left the CMU campus on Thursday evening in two separate vehicles. The group of students planned on each taking turns driving through the night so that they could attend a concert in Miami for the weekend. Unfortunately, five students traveling in a 1998 Land Rover never made it safely to Miami.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, witnesses who saw the fatal accident reported that the 1998 Land Rover had been swerving on Interstate 95. When the driver attempted to make a correction, the vehicle rolled over several times, ejecting two of the passengers. The 21-year-old man ejected in the accident died on the scene.
The 21-year-old woman ejected from the vehicle was found pinned underneath the Land Rover. She was taken to a Florida hospital and was later listed in critical condition. Three other individuals in the SUV were taken to Halifax Medical Center to be treated for their injuries.
Although the Florida Highway Patrol commented that they do not believe alcohol was a factor, it is a possibility that the 21-year-old woman who was driving the vehicle fell asleep at wheel.
The tragic accident has devastated family members, friends and CMU’s community. The university commented that the student killed was popular, artistic and brought a “lively presence” to the school. The man’s father recalled his son’s passion for art ever since he was young and said he was proud of what his son had accomplished before his life was suddenly taken away.
Source:Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: “CMU student killed in Florida crash,” 26 Mar. 2011