Fox Channel 35 Orlando News reported recently that a motor vehicle accident on Sunday, April 11, 2021 in Hernando County led to the death of a local high school student when she was tragically electrocuted by a live power line while trying to escape her burning car during a severe thunderstorm.
According to officials from the Florida Highway Patrol, the incident occurred on Evenglow Avenue near Hyacinth Lane on Sunday during severe thunderstorms that wracked the entire Tampa Bay area throughout the day. The young teen, a Navy Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps (JROTC) cadet lieutenant at Central High School who was seventeen years of age, was driving north on Evenglow Avenue when her car ran into a downed power line that had been damaged by a falling tree during the intense thunderstorm. The car caught fire along its driver’s side and the victim attempted to escape via the passenger door, but stepped on the downed line, electrocuting her. She was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident.
Her friends and instructors remembered her as a competent, accomplished natural leader who served as a mentor to others in the JROTC program and who was due to graduate this spring and attend Pasco-Hernando State College in the fall.
South Florida’s Deadliest Intersections Several factors make for a dangerous intersection. The International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health reports that fatalities are more likely to occur at intersections where dense traffic allows little room for error while driving. Additional possible hazards include: High numbers of motorists, pedestrians, and bicyclists. Poor visibility. Little signage or unclear road instructions....
Florida seeks to prevent wrong-way auto crashes Florida officials are looking for ways to prevent wrong-way car crashes, which occur with alarming frequency in the state. In April, a study published by the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) found that 75 people were killed in 280 wrong-way crashes between 2009 and 2013 on Florida highways. Miami-Dade County accounted for 60 of those...
To Ban or Not to Ban? This is the Question Facing Florida Legislatures While it already may not make sense that Florida is one of the few states without a cell phone/texting ban while driving, it should make less sense now. The Sun Sentinel recently released a report indicating that, in several Florida cities and counties, fatal Florida car crashes took place due to careless and distracted driving....
The Epidemic of Driver Distraction and its Effects on Crashes On Tuesday, December 13th, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) called for the first ever nationwide ban on cell phone use while driving. If approved, this would include the use of cell phones and text messaging from all devices while driving. Although different states have certain cell phone laws prohibiting handheld devices for all age...
When Do Lawyers Recommend Talking To An Insurance Adjuster After A Car Accident? Following a car accident, lawyers recommend that you do not speak with an insurance adjuster right away. Instead, politely decline to give information and call a personal injury attorney. The insurance companies do not have your best interests at heart. Their goal is to reduce their own liability. Sometimes that includes undermining your legitimate claim...
Should I Call a Lawyer After a Car Accident? Are you weighing the pros and cons of whether you should call a lawyer after a car accident? While the state of Florida allows you to resolve a personal injury case on your own, hiring a lawyer can also work to achieve your legal goals. Your lawyer can: Focus on your financial recovery while you...
What Kind of Injuries Can Happen in a Car Accident? The injuries one may suffer in a car accident varies based on many different factors, including who was involved and the type of collision that occurred. According to the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI)-distributed book Motor Vehicle Collisions (MVCs) by Tammy J. Toney-Butler and Matthew Varacallo, some common accidents with commonly reported injuries include:...
Who Pays For Your Medical Bills After A Car Accident You Did Not Cause In Florida? After an accident, your Personal Injury Protection (PIP) car insurance policy will cover up 80% of your medical bills and 60% of your lost wages up to $10,000. According to Florida’s No-Fault auto insurance laws, all drivers are required to have a minimum of $10,000 of PIP coverage to register and operate their vehicle on...
