UPDATE: 22-Year-Old Melbourne Man Dies in Fiery Fatal Crash on Southbound I-95 in Melbourne
By Space Coast Daily // December 11, 2024
identity of the victim has not yet been released
BREVARD COUNTY • MELBOURNE, FLORIDA – Florida Highway Patrol Troopers were on the scene of a fatal crash Wednesday morning that claimed the life of a 22-year-old man from Melbourne, who died at the scene when his car was engulfed in flames.
The identity of the victim has not yet been released.
The crash occurred on the southbound lanes of I-95 at mile marker 183 in Melbourne about 7:30 a.m.
According to Florida Highway Patrol Trooper and spokesperson Migdalisis Garcia, the fatal crash involved a 2022 Kenworth semi-tractor trailer that was traveling southbound on I-95 in the outside lane, near mile Marker 183.
At the same time, a 2024 Hyundai Elantra, 2022 Ford Explorer, 2003 Mercury Grand Marquis, and 2017 Volkswagen Tiguan were all stopped in the southbound outside lane of I-95 ahead of the semi-tractor trailer.
According to Trooper Garcia, the semi-tractor trailer driver failed to stop for the Hyundai stopped ahead.
Trooper Garcia said the semi-tractor trailer driver, a 23-year-old man from North Carolina, attempted to swerve to the left and struck the rear of the Hyundai, causing the semi-tractor trailer and Hyundai to cross the southbound lanes.
The Hyundai then struck the inside shoulder guardrail and became engulfed in flames. The impact caused a chain reaction crash between the three other vehicles. The three drivers of those vehicles, all of Cocoa, suffered minor injuries and were transported to the hospital.
Trooper Garcia said the semi-tractor trailer driver, who was uninjured, remained on the scene.
Trooper Garcia said the crash remains under investigation.