Florida City Man Runs Red Light, Kills 5 In Morning Crash
RIVIERA BEACH, Fla. (CBSMiami) – Five people died in an early morning crash Saturday after a Florida City man ran a red light.
Jabari S. Kemp, 21, drove his 2008 Mercedes on the exit ramp from northbound I-95 at Blue Heron Boulevard in Riviera Beach, according to the accident report. Kemp ran a red light, crashing into a 1994 Lexus carrying five people.
The fatal crash occurred about 12:25 a.m. The force of the crash was enough to send both cars into the opposite lane.
"The Mercedes failed to stop for the traffic signal and T-boned the Lexus," Florida Highway Patrol Lt. Tim Frith told the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.
Riding in the Lexus were three girls and two men. The five, all from Riviera Beach, died as a result of the crash. Troopers said the girls were riding in the back seat and not wearing seatbelts.
The girls died at the scene after being ejected from the Lexus, which overturned during the collision. The girls were identified as Shonteria Grimsley, 17; Christina Oliver Joseph, 17; and Makita Campbell, 14.
The driver of the Lexus, identified as 21-year-old Jason Mahlung, was airlifted to the hospital, where he died. The identity of the front passenger was not known because his relatives had not yet been notified. It is believed the family is out of the country.
According to the accident report, Kemp was transported to St. Mary's Medical Center and is in serious but stable condition.
A third vehicle, a 2009 Toyota Camry, was struck by crash debris. However, the driver, 24-year-old Joavin Casimir, was not injured, the report said.
Casimir said he heard what sounded like an explosion before something flew through his back window. He showed CBS4's Maggie Newland the oil covering the front of his car and the shattered glass.
Casimir said he called 911 and was running toward the accident scene when an officer told him to stay back, telling him there was nothing he could do.
The man said he knew a couple of the people who died.
The crash is being investigated as a traffic homicide and charges are pending.
(TM and © 2013 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and © 2013 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The South Florida Sun-Sentinel contributed to this report.)
