18-year-old from Coral Springs dies after car collides with fire rescue truck on Florida’s Turnpike
Coral Springs, Florida – A tragic accident on Florida’s Turnpike claimed the life of an 18-year-old Coral Springs resident on Sunday morning when a car he was riding in collided with a fire rescue truck, officials said. The young man, who attended Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, was pronounced dead at a local hospital following the crash.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP), the accident occurred at approximately 7:40 a.m. when a 2021 Toyota Camry, carrying three occupants, struck the back of a Tamarac Fire Rescue Engine. The fire engine had been parked on the inside shoulder of the Turnpike with its emergency lights activated, partially blocking the inside travel lane while responding to an earlier crash.
The Camry was driven by a 20-year-old Coral Springs man and also carried a 16-year-old passenger from Parkland. FHP reported that the driver of the Camry did not change lanes to avoid the fire engine, resulting in the vehicle colliding with the rear of the emergency vehicle. The impact caused the car to spin clockwise, eventually landing in the outside center lane and facing south.
Emergency responders worked quickly to extricate all three occupants from the vehicle. The two passengers were transported to Broward Health Medical Center, and the driver was also taken to the same facility. Hospital staff pronounced the 18-year-old passenger dead shortly after arrival. The identities of the victims have not been publicly released pending notification of next of kin.
The crash has left the Coral Springs community in shock, particularly as the young man was a student of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, a school that has previously faced its own tragedies. Broward County Public Schools officials said that privacy laws prevent them from confirming whether grief counselors were immediately available on campus, but they emphasized that counselors are typically offered to students and staff to support them in times of crisis.
FHP stated that the investigation into the crash is ongoing. The agency will continue to gather information, including details about the Camry’s speed, road conditions, and the circumstances surrounding the collision with the fire rescue vehicle. Authorities have urged anyone with information about the incident to come forward to assist in the investigation.
The fatal crash serves as a stark reminder of the dangers that emergency responders face daily and the importance of maintaining caution on highways. Vehicles stopped for emergency personnel, even with lights flashing, can present serious risks, and drivers are urged to exercise extreme care when approaching and passing such scenes.
As the Coral Springs community mourns the loss of a young life, families and local officials are left grappling with the devastating consequences of a split-second decision on the road, while investigators work to piece together the events that led to the tragic collision.
