2 Dead, 1 Hospitalized After Dolphin Expressway Crash
MIAMI (CBSMiami) -Two teenagers were killed and a third was sent to the hospital after an early Saturday morning crash that snarled traffic in both directions of the Dolphin Expressway (SR 836).
The accident happened at approximately 2:30 a.m. Saturday near NW 17th Avenue, in the Civic Center area. The Florida Highway Patrol confirmed the car, traveling westbound, struck a light post along the expressway, virtually splitting the car in two. The car ended up in the eastbound lanes.
Inside the car were three teenagers. The driver, 17-year-old Alejandra Maria Gomez, and the passenger, 18-year-old Jenifer S. Garcia, were pronounced dead at the scene.
"She was my best friend. She was everything to me," sobbed Virgina Lugo, Alejandra's sister. "I still can't believe this happened to her. I feel like anytime now she's gonna come and tell me it was all just a dream."
The third person in the vehicle, identified as 18-year-old Tatiana Davila, was taken to Ryder Trauma Center. She was in the back seat of the 2001 Saturn Sl2, police said.
"That section of the car was projected about a hundred feet," said Carlos Davila, Tatiana's father. "She was inside the seat and the seat belt actually kept her inside which is what saved her bottom line."
He said Davila was in stable condition, alert and talking. But her father said she is still unaware that her friends did not survive.
"We're waiting, a delicate situation like this you don't want to throw anything like this hard," said Davila.
According to the police report, Gomez's vehicle swerved to the left and then back to the right while crossing the inside lane and shoulder. Soon after, the vehicle started spinning and hit the concrete wall.
When the car was split in two it ended up in the westbound and eastbound lanes of the 836.
Davila was found still belted in her seat.
Gomez was wearing her seat belt during the incident, the report said. Garcia, the front seat passenger, was not wearing a seat belt and was ejected out of her seat during the accident, according to the police report.
