A 20-year-old Palm Bay woman was killed late Sunday in a chain-reaction crash on Interstate 95 that began when another driver struck an alligator in the roadway, the Florida Highway Patrol said.
BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – A 20-year-old Palm Bay woman was killed late Sunday in a chain-reaction crash on Interstate 95 that began when another driver struck an alligator in the roadway, the Florida Highway Patrol said.
Authorities are searching for a third driver who struck the woman after she was ejected and then fled the scene.
The crash happened about 11:52 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 30, on southbound I-95 near mile marker 214 in the Titusville area, just south of State Road 50.
According to FHP, a 2010 Mercedes-Benz E-350 driven by a 58-year-old man from Canada was traveling south in the center lane when the driver saw an alligator on the interstate and could not avoid it. The front left side of the Mercedes struck the animal.
A 2004 Toyota Tacoma driven by the Palm Bay woman was also traveling southbound approaching the same area. Troopers said she swerved in an attempt to avoid the Mercedes ahead of her, then lost control.
The pickup overturned, and the driver was ejected, landing in the center lane.
A third, unidentified vehicle traveling southbound then struck the woman in the roadway and left the scene, FHP said.
The Palm Bay woman was pronounced dead at the scene. The Mercedes driver was not transported and remained at the crash site.
The crash remains under investigation. FHP has not publicly released the victim’s name.
Authorities are seeking the driver of the unknown third vehicle.
Anyone with information is asked to contact FHP at *347 or Crimeline at 1-800-423-TIPS.
