Florida Injury Attorneys Blog

Alyza Rachel Russell of Fort Lauderdale, Florida allegedly crashed into pedestrians Mackendy Jules and Samuel Artez Martindale on Thursday, news sources report. Jules, 30, and Martindale, 35, both died at the scene. Russell, 22, and two of her passengers were uninjured. Police are currently conducting an investigation to determine the exact cause of the accident; it appears Russell may have been under the influence of alcohol at the time of the crash. So far, there have been no charges. It is unclear whether a suit will be filed.

Sources show this is not Russell's traffic-related incident. In June 2012, Russell was reportedly charged with driving without light and driving with a license. She later pled no contest to each of the charges, reports say, and a judge later withheld adjudication.

According to reports, the incident occurred at the intersection of Broward Boulevard and Southwest Fifth Avenue. The Broward Center for the Performing Arts and the Museum of Science are both located near the intersection. The large parking lot out front of the business is a popular hangout and living space for many of the city's homeless people.

At around 2:00 Thursday morning, Russell was reportedly westbound on Broward Boulevard when she tried to make a left turn onto Southwest Fifth Avenue. However, Russell lost control of her Porsche and went over the curb and towards the parking lot. A man on the curb narrowly dodged being hit as Russell's vehicle entered the parking lot and struck Jules and Martindale, who were not in a vehicle at the time of the crash.

"It was like a scene out of a movie," a nearby witness said. "I heard a screech and a loud crash." Reports say Jules and Martindale were pronounced dead at the scene; Russell and her two passengers were not injured. Detectives have since said that Russell may have been under the influence of a controlled substance when the accident occurred.

Not all injuries are due to car accidents. 15-month-old Aiden Vadillo of Coral Springs nearly drowned Sunday after his flotation device flipped and left him trapped underwater for several minutes, reports say. Vadillo was taken to an area hospital for treatment. It is not currently known whether any parents or guardians will face charges for the incident. A police investigation is ongoing.

Continue reading "Mackendy Jules and Samuel Artez Martindale, Fort Lauderdale, Florida Pedestrians, Die in Crash With Alyza Rachel Russell" »

Evens Prudent of Miami, Florida crashed into Maria Martinez and Marlon Gutierrez on Sunday, news sources report. Martinez, 44, and Gutierrez, 34, were pronounced dead at the scene. Prudent, 26, sustained injuries and is receiving treatment at an area hospital; police have reportedly determined that Prudent was under the influence at the time of the crash. Prudent will be booked into the Miami-Dade County Jail on unspecified charges after he is released from the hospital. It is unclear whether he has hired legal representation.

According to reports, the accident occurred at the intersection of 8th Street and 37th Avenue in Miami. Sources say the intersection is governed by a traffic light. At around 1:20 Sunday morning, Martinez and Gutierrez's car was stopped for a red light at the intersection. Prudent approached the scene, failed to stop for the traffic light, and crashed into Martinez and Gutierrez's vehicle, sources report.

Martinez and Gutierrez were pronounced dead at the scene. Prudent was taken to the Jackson Memorial Hospital; he sustained non-life threatening injuries, reports say. Detectives from the Traffic Homicide Unit began investigating the accident and discovered that Prudent was under the influence of alcohol the morning of the accident. His BAC at the time of the accident has not yet been released.

Miami-Dade County is one of Florida's most established counties and has a large number of busy streets. As such, Miami-Dade is host to thousands of car accidents every year. According to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, there were 43,260 traffic crashes in Miami-Dade in 2010. Of those crashes, 1,588 were caused by drunk driving, the FLHSMV indicates. Sources show that 43 people (17% of all Miami fatal crash victims) died in Miami-Dade DUI crashes that year.

Prudent was not the only South Florida man suspected of driving under the influence this past week. Gary Steven Cook of Palm Harbor was involved in a three-car collision on Wednesday after he drunkenly crashed into two cars, attempted to flee police, and punched a firefighter, reports say. Thankfully, no one appears to have been injured in the altercation. Cook was later arrested on charges of driving under the influence and battery on a firefighter. It is unclear whether he qualified for bail bond or hired legal representation.

Continue reading "Maria Martinez, Marlon Gutierrez of Miami, Florida Killed in DUI Car Crash with Evens Prudent" »

Jeffrey Hirt and James Morin were in a Coconut Creek, Florida collision on Saturday that ended with Hirt dead, sources indicate. Police are currently conducting an investigation to determine the exact cause of the accident and have not said whether charges are expected. It is unclear whether Hirt's survivors will file for damages.

According to reports, Hirt, 47, works as an auto body mechanic at Sterling Autobody in Pompano Beach. Sources say Hirt was born in Blauvelt, New York and moved to South Florida 21 years ago. Hirt's wife, Linda Hirt, told reporters that on the days Hirt didn't work, "he just liked to ride his bike." Linda was out of town at the time of the accident, but said she spoke with Hirt on the phone only moments before the crash and that he had been on his way to get some dinner.

Reports say the accident occurred around 5:45 Saturday evening at the Sawgrass Promenade shopping plaza in 1300 block of South Military Trail in Deerfield Beach. There is a traffic light positioned at the entrance of the plaza that control traffic coming into and out of the parking lot, though it is not clear what the signal read at the time of the crash. Sources say Morin was northbound on Military Trail when he attempted to make a left-hand turn into the Sawgrass Promenade parking lot. Hirt, who was traveling on his motorcycle going the other direction, crashed into the passenger's side of Morin's Honda.

Hirt was taken to Broward Health North; he was later pronounced dead of his injuries. Morin does not appear to have been injured. An investigation is underway; police have not determined which man had the right-of-way at the time of the crash.

Continue reading "Jeffrey Hirt and James Morin in Coconut Creek, Florida Collision; Hirt Dies" »

33 people were injured in Miami, Florida on Thursday after a deck at a popular restaurant gave way, dropping around 100 people into the ocean, news sources report. At least two of the victims sustained serious injuries and are being treated at an area hospital. Police are currently conducting an investigation to determine what factors led to the collapse. It is not yet known whether a class-action lawsuit may result.

According to reports, the incident occurred around 9:45 Thursday evening at Shuckers Bar & Grill on 79th Street Causeway in North Bay Village. The restaurant sported a large deck with numerous tables, allowing diners to eat outside and enjoy a view of Biscayne Bay. Reports say Shuckers was especially busy Thursday night, as patrons crowded the deck to watch the Miami Heat team compete in the fourth NBA Finals game.

Sources say there were around 100 people on the deck when the pillars supporting the deck snapped. The deck plummeted down, sending the diners into the water. "Suddenly there was a sound. It was a loud crash and it all came down," Rebecca Diaz, who was on the deck at the time, said. "Everyone went down like the Titanic, and I think the lights went out because it got dark and I couldn't get my foot out until they help me and lifted the deck to get my foot out." Diaz was among the 33 taken to the hospital; reports say she sustained a sprained ankle.

Marie Torres was near the deck at the time of the collapse. "We heard a loud boom, a loud noise, we didn't know what it was and when we turned around, we were probably about 10 feet from it and when we looked it was part of the deck just caved in," he said. "There was a huge splash, there was people in the water, everything, tables, planters from the plants were in the water."

Eric Williams was also on the scene when the deck collapsed into the water. "We just saw a deck collapse, we didn't know how deep it was or what-have-you, but it was pretty amazing once you saw other people in the water," Williams told the press. Reports say Williams dove into the water and helped victims escape.

Continue reading "Miami, Florida Deck Collapse Injures 33" »

John D. Frazier of Boynton Beach, Florida allegedly struck an unmarked patrol car and fled the scene on Wednesday, news sources report. Information regarding the victim's identity was not immediately available following the incident; reports say the victim sustained a head injury and was treated at an area hospital. Frazier, 65, has been apprehended, but it is unclear whether charges have been filed.

Reports say this is not Frazier's first crash. In February 2011, Frazier was in a car accident in South Florida, the details of which are currently not known. Frazier was cited for careless driving following that accident, reports say. Sources also say that Frazier's license expired in early August 2012 and he failed to have it renewed.

This latest accident occurred around 10:30 Wednesday morning on North Seacrest Boulevard in Boynton Beach. The boulevard has four lanes with a center turning lane. Reports say Frazier was southbound on the boulevard when he attempted to make a left turn and collided with the officer's northbound unmarked cruiser. The impact reportedly caused the officer's car to veer off the boulevard at into a light pole.

Frazier allegedly fled the scene following the accident, but a nearby city worker tailed Frazier's vehicle, jotted down his license plate number, and called police. A patrolling officer later found Frazier and the Cadillac in a driveway in the 1600 block of Northeast First Street; Frazier was allegedly trying to repair some damage to the vehicle at the time. The officer spoke with Frazier and asked him why he left the scene of the accident, to which Frazier reportedly replied that he left the scene so that he could go home and get his license.

Car crashes may be the leading cause of injuries in South Florida, but they weren't the only thing sending people to the hospital this past week. A Wellington man was hospitalized Tuesday after he was struck by lightning, reports say. The man's name was not immediately released at press time; he was treated at an area hospital for non-life threatening injuries.

Continue reading "John D. Frazier of Boynton Beach, Florida Apprehended for Hit-and-Run Collision with Police Officer" »

Rufus Devane and Santiago Cruz, both Miami Beach, Florida police sergeants, were injured in a motorcycle crash Wednesday while helping to escort the president to the airport, news sources report. Devane, 42, and Cruz, 49, sustained non-fatal injuries and were treated at an area hospital. Police are currently conducting an investigation to determine the exact cause of the accident. So far, it is unclear whether there will be any charges or citations.

Reports say that both officers are motorcycle brigade veterans. Devane has been a motorcycle sergeant with the Miami Beach police department for 19 years, while Sgt. Cruz has also been a motorcycle sergeant with the department for little more than 22 years. So far, the department has not publicly commented on the crash.

According to reports, President Barack Obama was in Miami Beach Wednesday evening attending two Democratic fundraisers. Later that night, the president was heading back to the Miami International Airport. Sources say that the president's limo was escorted by a motorcade consisting of the secret service and area police officers, including Devane and Cruz.

Devane and Cruz were with a portion of the motorcade near the intersection of Interstate 95 and State Road 836 when the crash occurred. While the details of the accident are still murky, a police spokesperson said that an abandoned car on the road's shoulder might have played a role in the crash. Devane and Cruz were both taken to the Jackson Memorial Hospital's Ryder Trauma Center; sources say their injuries are considered non-life threatening.

Reports say President Obama's trip to the Miami International Airport was unaffected by the crash. Sources say Obama departed the airport ahead of schedule. The White House has remained mum regarding the crash for the time being.

Another motorcycle officer was actually killed in a similar accident while preparing the roads for President Obama late last year. Bruce St. Laurent, a Jupiter, Florida police officer, was killed in a motorcycle accident in September as he attempted to shut down Interstate 95 for the President's motorcade, reports say. Laurent, 55, was pronounced dead at an area hospital shortly after the crash.

According to reports, Laurent had been with the police department for 20 years, had been married for 30 years, and had four children. He was also an established member of the offices motorcycle unit, going on 18 years on the force. In the years of 1993, 1996, and 2008 he was awarded the department's "Officer of the Quarter" award. In 1996, the office named him "Officer of the Year."

Continue reading "Rufus Devane and Santiago Cruz, Miami Beach, Florida Police Sergeants, Injured in Presidential Motorcade" »

Ernesto Antonio Calzado and Natalie Villa de Rey got into a Miami-Dade County, Florida speedboat accident on Sunday that injured nine, news sources report. Information regarding the remaining victims' identities was not immediately available following the accident. It is unclear whether Calzado and Rey were injured. Police are currently conducting an investigation to determine the exact cause of the collision and have not said whether charges will be filed. It is unclear whether any of the victims will file a suit.

According to reports, the collision occurred Sunday afternoon in Biscayne Bay near Elliot Key in Miami-Dade County. Reports say Calzado and a female passenger were in a 26-foot Wellcraft boat traveling around 30 mph in the bay. Meanwhile, Rey and 15 others were in a 36-foot Carrera speedboat traveling around 30 mph in the bay.

Sources say that Calzado was heading west when he collided with the side of Rey's vessel in "a T-bone-type accident." The force of the collision caused Calzado's boat to capsize in the bay. "Most of the people on board [Rey's vessel] ended up in the water," a Florida Fish and Wildlife spokesperson said, adding, "It's a miracle that we didn't have anybody drown."

Eight people were taken to the hospital via ambulance, while a ninth was air-rushed to Kendall Regional Medical Center. The person who had to be air-rushed sustained head and leg trauma, reports say. All of the victims have since been released from the hospital. "We're still in the midst of looking at all of the details, but it doesn't appear that alcohol played a role," an FWC spokesperson said regarding the crash. The spokesperson said that reckless driving or "the inability to maintain a proper lookout [may have] played a role."

According to the U.S. Coast Guard Boating Safety Resource Center, there were 1,010 boat collisions in the U.S. in 2012. A study by the center also revealed that a majority of boating accidents occurred during June, July, and August. The majority of seafaring accidents were attributed to three causes: operator inattention (581 accidents), operator inexperience (417 accidents), and improper lookout (391 accidents).

Janette Africano of Hialeah lost her life in a similar boating accident earlier this year when she became trapped between her vessel and a bridge support pillar, reports say. Africano, 35, was pronounced dead at an area hospital following the accident. Police are still investigating to determine the conditions that lead to the accident. So far, there have been no citations.

Continue reading "Ernesto Antonio Calzado and Natalie Villa de Rey in Miami-Dade County, Florida Boat Collision; Nine Injured" »

William Harvey Ferguson of Tamarac, Florida allegedly accelerated forward by mistake and crashed through the front of a Family Dollar store on Monday, news sources report. Ferguson, 86, was cited for failure to maintain control of his vehicle and careless driving. Reports say that neither Ferguson nor anyone in the store was injured in the crash.

According to the press, the incident occurred Monday at a Family Dollar store on West Commercial Boulevard in Tamarac. Ferguson had just finished shopping at the store and was about to drive away in his Volkswagen when he accidentally put his car into drive instead of reverse. Ferguson accelerated forward and crashed through the glass storefront of the shop, reports say.

Ferguson and the store's occupants were uninjured in the crash. There was an employee standing in the location where Ferguson crashed, but the employee was able to get out of the way, sources say. However, authorities said the store would stay closed until "appropriate measures are taken to assure safety." After an investigation, Tamarac police said they intended to cite Ferguson for the crash.

Collisions with buildings are actually fairly common. In a similar accident earlier this year, Xiomara Martinez, a Miami, Florida daycare owner, drove into her daycare after she allegedly stepped on the accelerator instead of the brake, reports say. The nine children inside the daycare, fortunately, were not injured in the crash. Martinez was taken to the hospital with unspecified injuries. It is unclear whether a citation was filed.

According to reports, the accident occurred around 9:00 Tuesday morning in the parking lot of Olga's Pre-School & Day Care off Southwest 107th Avenue. Martinez was in the parking lot outside of the daycare when another driver honked at her for an unspecified reason, sources say. Startled, Martinez mistakenly pressed down on her gas pedal instead of the brake, sources say. Her vehicle accelerated into the front of the daycare.

Reports say there were nine children in the daycare at the time of the accident, but all walked away unscathed. "[The crash] sounded like an explosion," a witness from a neighboring business said. The witness rushed to the scene following the collision. "At first, I couldn't see anything because everything was covered in a white cloud of smoke." The witness then checked on the children. "They looked scared," he said. "They were crying, all of them."

Continue reading "William Harvey Ferguson of Tamarac, Florida Crashes into Family Dollar" »

A Davie, Florida motorist crashed into a motorcycle while attempting a left turn on Sunday, news sources report. The motorcyclist and two occupants of another car were sent to the hospital as a result. Information regarding the victims' identities was not immediately available following the incident. The motorcyclist was in critical condition following the crash. Police are currently conducting an investigation to determine the exact cause of the accident. It remains to be seen whether the motorcyclist will file for damages>.

According to reports, the accident occurred around 1:30 Sunday afternoon near a Publix on University Drive, which is a six-lane road with a grassy median in its center. A car traveling northbound on University Drive attempted a left-hand turn and collided with a southbound motorcyclist, sources say. The motorcyclist was ejected from his bike, which continued without its rider until it crashed into a car that was exiting the Publix parking lot.

The motorcyclist sustained critical injuries and was taken to the Memorial Regional Hospital. It was not immediately known whether the motorcyclist was wearing a helmet at the time of the collision. Two occupants of the second vehicle were also taken to the hospital; an update on their condition was not available at press time. It does not appear as though the first driver was injured.

Records show there are around 26,000 traffic accidents in Broward every year, a large number of which can be attributed to left-hand turns. "Especially on a busy multi-lane road, you're going to make a left turn ... you have to navigate across several lanes of oncoming traffic -- something that humans are a little bit bad at doing, judging the speed and distance of approaching vehicles -- it's sort of a stressful maneuver," a traffic engineer said.

While many of Florida's near-fatal accidents occur on the road, sometimes they occur closer to home. A 10-year-old Pompano Beach boy nearly drowned Saturday after he and his brothers decided to go swimming at a vacant house, reports say. Information regarding the victim's identity was not released at press time. Police are currently investigating the events leading up to the incident and have not said whether anyone will be charged in connection to the incident.

The incident began when the victim, his brother, and his two stepbrothers began meandering around their Pompano Beach neighborhood to find a way to cool down and have some fun. Two of the other boys are 14, sources say, while the remaining boy is 12. The four boys found a vacant home with an in-ground pool and a slide in the 600 block of Northeast Third Street at around 8:00 Saturday evening. Since no one was around, the boys decided to go for a swim.

Continue reading "Davie, Florida Collision Sends Motorcyclist and Two Others to the Hospital" »

Timothy Vermillion of Broward County, Florida was involved in a DUI hit-and-run collision Thursday after he allegedly crashed into another car while driving on the wrong side of the road, news sources report. Information regarding the victim's identity was not immediately available following the incident. Vermillion, 55, was booked into the Broward County Main Jail on multiple charges, including DUI, leaving the scene of an accident, driving the wrong way, driving with a revoked license, and driving with no insurance. A judge set his bail bond at $96,000. It is unclear whether Vermillion attained an attorney.

According to reports, this is not Vermillion's first DUI arrest. He faced prior DUI convictions in February 2008 and November 2012. Vermillion was sentenced to one year of probation following the November conviction. Earlier this month, Vermillion was arrested for violating that probation and was released on Wednesday on his own recognizance.

The accident occurred on Thursday, one day after Vermillion's release. Reports say Vermillion was under the influence when drove onto the wrong side of the road and crashed head-on into another car. After the crash, Vermillion allegedly abandoned his vehicle and fled the scene on foot. Two people in the other vehicle had to be hospitalized for unspecified injuries; an update on their condition was not available at press time.

Vermillion was arrested shortly after the incident and appeared in court before a Broward County judge. "The court believes you represent an extreme danger to the people of Broward County," the judge said. "You continue to drive while you're impaired... and you're running into people and hurting people." The judge added that, "All this was done while your license was revoked for DUI, canceled, suspended, no insurance and you're on probation for DUI."

Vermillion was not the only South Florida resident arrested for DUI this past week. Phillip P. Jordan of Ocala was arrested Thursday after he was accused of drunkenly driving to a fast food restaurant, reports say. Jordan, 58, was booked into the Marion County Jail on charges of DUI. His bail was set at $15,000. It is unclear whether Jordan has hired legal representation.

According to reports, Jordan is no stranger to DUI convictions. Sources say this is Jordan's eighth DUI arrest; he has already been convicted of DU seven times Florida and Georgia. The details of those cases are not currently clear.

Continue reading "Timothy Vermillion of Broward County, Florida Arrested for DUI Hit-and-Run; Two Injured" »

Bernard Williams of Dania Beach, Florida was killed in a hit-and-run accident after he attempted to cross the street, news sources report. Williams, 62, was pronounced dead at the scene. Police are currently conducting an investigation to determine the exact cause of the accident; so far, they have not been able to identify that hit-and-run driver. Charges are pending and it remains to be seen whether Williams's family will file for damages.

According to reports, the accident occurred in the 1200 block of South Federal Highway in Dania Beach. South Federal Highway is made up of four main lanes plus a center median turning lane. Red lights with pedestrian crosswalks can be found at regular intervals along the road. Reports did not say whether Williams was at a crosswalk at the time of the accident.

The incident occurred around 4:00 Wednesday morning. "Apparently [Williams] was attempting to cross Federal Highway when he was struck in the southbound lanes," a Broward County Sheriff's Office spokesperson said. The vehicle fled the scene following the collision. Detectives do not appear to have located any witnesses, so it is unclear what make and model vehicle struck Williams, reports say. It is not known whether Williams was crossing at a crosswalk.

Williams was pronounced dead at the scene. "Nobody deserves to be left like that," a local restaurant owner said. "I mean, even if you didn't want to get caught, call 911 or from somebody else's cell phone or pay phone or whatever. Get the guy some help and then take off, if you really got scared." Police are offering a $1,000 reward to anyone who supplies information leading to an arrest, reports say.

Broward County is among Florida's largest counties, and as such is home to thousands of traffic accidents every year. According to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, Broward County is host to around 26,000 vehicle crashes annually. Those accidents account for around 220 roadway fatalities each year, records show.

Hit and run accidents, such as the one Williams was killed in, often end in tragedy. In April, Robert Michael Hall Roy of Pace was killed in an alleged hit-and-run accident with Brianna Strumm of Milton, reports say. Roy was pronounced dead at the scene; Strumm, 25, was booked into jail on charges of leaving the scene of an accident involving death, driving under the influence, and manslaughter. It was not immediately clear whether she qualified for bail or hired legal representation.

Continue reading "Bernard Williams, a Dania Beach, Florida Pedestrian, Killed in Hit-and-Run" »

John Furka of Fort Lauderdale, Florida crashed into a man in a motorized wheelchair who was allegedly illegally crossing a street on Tuesday, news sources report. Furka, 71, was not injured in the crash; the victim, 70, sustained critical injuries and was pronounced dead at an area hospital. Police are currently conducting an investigation and have not said whether charges will be filed. It is unclear whether the victims relatives will file for damages.

According to reports, the accident occurred at the intersection of Northeast 17th Way and Sunrise Boulevard. There is a red light at the intersection, as well pedestrian lights. Reports say the accident occurred around 6:30 Tuesday morning, as the victim was attempting to cross Sunrise Boulevard from the northbound side. "According to witnesses, the [victim] was crossing traffic not at a crosswalk against oncoming traffic," a police spokesperson said.

Furka, who was westbound on Sunrise in his 2000 Ford Expedition, struck the victim. The force of the impact damaged the vehicle's right side bumper and left a dent in the hood. Images of the scene after the collision showed that the victim's motorized wheelchair had been completely torn apart.

The victim was unresponsive to medical teams and was taken to Broward Health Medical Center; he was pronounced dead shortly later. Furka remained on the scene and is cooperating with investigators, reports say. Police are still investigating the incident.

A witness described the accident to reporters, saying the victim's wheelchair was not equipped with lights of reflective materials. "For whatever reason, he almost got clipped on the other side," the witness said. "I saw the whole thing. It was terrible, absolutely terrible. I'm going to have nightmares about this for God knows how long."

Furka was not the only Fort Lauderdale man involved in a traffic accident this week. Mitchell H. King of Fort Lauderdale was arrested Monday after he allegedly drunkenly collided with several cars, reports say. King, 52, was booked into the Broward County Main Jail on charges of DUI, damage to property or person, failure to produce valid insurance, and refusal to submit to a DUI test. He is being held on $3,100 bail bond. It is unclear whether he hired legal representation.

Sources say the incident occurred Monday afternoon. King allegedly drove drunk to a liquor shop, crashing into three cars on the way. King purchased a bottle of alcohol at the store, then continued driving, sources say. An officer spotted King near Andrews Avenue.

Continue reading "John Furka of Fort Lauderdale, Florida Crashes into Motorized Wheelchair; Victim Dies" »

Hector Seiglie, a Miami, Florida firefighter, was injured Monday after a truck reportedly attempted a left-hand turn and crashed into his motorcycle, news sources report. Seiglie, 51, was critically injured. Information regarding the other driver's identity was not immediately available at press time. Police are currently conducting an investigation to determine the exact cause of the accident and have not yet filed charges. So far, it is unclear whether Seiglie will file for damages.

According to reports, Seiglie has been with the Miami Fire Department for 22 years; sources indicate he may currently work for a dive team at Fire Station #5 in Miami. Off-duty, Seiglie is a father of three children; his loved ones describe him as a loving man who on occasion tends to be a thrill-seeker. "He loves to try new things and he's just a great guy," Seiglie's brother told the press.

The accident occurred at around 6:00 Monday morning as Seiglie was riding his motorcycle to Fire Station #5. "He was driving into work and a truck turned left into him on Dixie Highway and 22nd Avenue," Seiglie's brother reportedly said. Seiglie was wearing his helmet at the time of the collision, but the impact of the crash still knocked him unconscious.

Seiglie was taken to the Ryder Trauma Center, where doctors discovered that he had sustained severe internal injuries in the crash. Sources say Seiglie's condition remained critical throughout the day. "We'd like to see him recover and get well and he has our support," a firefighter spokesperson said.

Dixie Highway and 22nd Avenue is a complex intersection that is often bustling with traffic. As with most intersections, it is a particularly dangerous place for driver distraction. A study by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration looked over 2,188,969 reported car crashes and found that 36% occurred at intersections. The study attributed many of these accidents to left turns, since such turns often leave the driver with an obstructed view. Some drivers also misjudge their speed while turning left, which can very quickly lead to an accident, the study said.

While intersections can be dangerous places, interstates can be equally as deadly. Jose Darca was killed in a Gainesville interstate accident after the SUV he was riding in veered of the road and struck two trees, reports say. Passengers Valentin Martinez Manuel and Adan Plataz were injured in the crash; the SUV's driver, Luis Hernan Cruz-Aleman, appears to have been uninjured. The Florida Highway Patrol is currently conducting an investigation to determine what factors led to the accident.

Continue reading "Hector Seiglie, Miami, Florida Firefighter, Injured in Motorcycle Collision" »

Jason Starks and Steven Carl Klix were injured after Klix allegedly fell asleep at the wheel while driving on Interstate 95, sources indicate. Starks, 34, was critically injured, while Klix, 30, sustained minor injuries. Police are currently conducting an investigation into the car accident and have not yet filed charges. It remains to be seen whether Starks will file for damages>.

According to reports, the accident occurred early Sunday on Interstate 95 around State Road 809. Klix was northbound in his 1999 Mercury Marquis when he allegedly dozed off, struck a concrete barrier, and collided with Starks's 2012 Chevrolet Impala. The two cars veered across several lanes; the Impala reportedly flipped over and collided with a tree.

Starks was taken to St. Mary's Medical Center and was listed as being in serious condition, sources say. Reports say Klix sustained minor injuries, though it is unclear whether he received medical aid. It is also unclear whether drugs or alcohol contributed to the crash.

Many drivers are wary of the effects of alcohol, drugs, and cell phone use while driving, but sleep deprivation is another serious concern. According to the National Sleep Foundation, 60% of adults said they had fallen asleep while driving in a 2005 study. Around 100,000 crashes each year are attributed to dozing off while driving, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says: that translates to about 1,550 deaths, 71,000 injuries, and about $12.5 billion in damages annually. Various organizations recommend getting enough sleep and taking quick walking breaks during long trips to avoid falling asleep on the road.

In other news, Allison Meyer and Rosalia Prado got into a car accident on Sunday; passenger Dino Ghilotti was killed in the crash, news sources report. Meyer and Prado sustained minor injuries. Florida Highway Patrol officials are currently investigating to determine the exact cause of the crash. Police have not said whether they intend to press charges.

According to reports, Ghilotti had recently graduated as a business major from the University of Miami and had planned to work at his family's construction business. A spokesperson for the University released a statement following the crash, saying, "The entire university community is heartbroken to hear of the tragic traffic accident which resulted in the death of a UM student who just celebrated his graduation on Friday." A mass was held for Ghilotti at a local church today.

Continue reading "Jason Starks, Steven Carl Klix Injured in I-95 Collision" »

A Port Everglades, Florida worker was injured on the job on Sunday after a cargo container trapped his leg, news sources report. Information regarding the victim's identity was not immediately available following the incident. He sustained minor injuries and was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment. Police are currently conducting an investigation to determine the exact cause of the accident. So far, no charges have been filed; it is unclear whether the victim will file for damages.

According to reports, the incident occurred at Port Everglades in Broward County. The worker was on a ship docked at Berth 30, looking over cargo containers, when one of them dislodged and trapped his leg, reports say. A response team used a ladder to get to the victim and free him; the victim was then taken to the Broward Health Medical Center. An update on his condition was not immediately available at press time. It is currently unclear what company the victim worked for; it is also not known whether the cargo containers were properly stowed at the time of the accident. An investigation is ongoing.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were around 117 cases of work-related injuries and illnesses per 10,000 full-time workers in 2011. That same year, around 40% of all work-related incidents were attributed to being struck by an object, falling, and overexertion while lifting or lowering an object. Oftentimes, the workplace itself is to blame for on-the-job accident and is thus liable for the worker's injuries.

While most work-related accidents result in injuries, sometimes the consequences can be fatal. Mark Freeman and Kenneth Krason were both killed in an on-the-job accident at Port Everglades earlier this year; a third worker, Thomas Fischer, was critically injured. The accident occurred when the lift the victims were working on toppled over. Homicide detectives are investigating the accident and have not yet determined whether negligence was involved. So far, there is not indication that a lawsuit has been filed.

Reports say the construction accident occurred on March 15 at Port Everglades. The three victims, who were working for Port Everglades, were on a scissor lift repairing a passenger gangway. The gangway is the primary boarding bridge that connects Terminal 1 to cruise ships.

Continue reading "Port Everglades, Florida Worker Injured in Cargo Container Accident" »