On New Year’s Day, a tragic accident claimed the life of a road ranger involved in a multi-vehicle collision on southbound Interstate 95 at Hollywood Boulevard, as reported by the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP).
The incident, which occurred at 3:37 a.m., involved a total of five vehicles. These included two marked FHP patrol cars and a road ranger service truck, according to FHP spokesperson Lt. Indiana Miranda.
A 2012 white BMW X6, driven by a 45-year-old woman from Miami, triggered the sequence of events. It collided with the rear of a 2006 Honda Accord that was traveling in a general lane on the interstate. Following this collision, the BMW veered into the express lane, where it struck a concrete barrier before ultimately hitting the road ranger’s service truck.
The collision set off a chain reaction, leading to an impact with two marked FHP Dodge Charger patrol vehicles. At the time of the collision, the road ranger was stationed between the patrol cars and was fatally injured.
Lt. Miranda confirmed that the FHP troopers driving the patrol cars sustained injuries classified as non-incapacitating. Similarly, the driver of the Honda Accord, identified as a 28-year-old man from Hollywood, also suffered minor injuries.
Significantly, FHP officials noted that the road ranger’s vehicle had its amber and red emergency lights activated. Likewise, the FHP patrol cars were halted with their emergency lights on while responding to a previous incident on the highway.
Due to the accident, southbound lanes of I-95 were closed for almost three hours near Pembroke Road, causing substantial delays for morning commuters in the Hollywood area. The investigation into the series of collisions is still underway. Authorities are requesting that anyone with further information reach out to the Florida Highway Patrol.
The tragic loss of the road ranger highlights the inherent risks faced by emergency responders on the highways. As investigations continue, it is crucial for drivers to maintain awareness and caution when approaching halted vehicles with activated emergency lights to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Source: Local10
