Three Injured In Fiery I-95 Crash
FT. LAUDERDALE (CBSMiami) – Three women remain in serious condition after a fiery crash on I-95 early Wednesday morning in.
The Florida Highway Patrol says one of those cars was going the wrong way and this could have been a deadly accident if the women were not wearing seatbelts. FHP is looking into whether alcohol was a factor in this accident.
It happened just after 3 a.m. south of the State Road 84 interchange. The Florida Highway Patrol reports 23-year old Nicole Herrera was heading north in the southbound lanes when she slammed head on into Chrysler PT Cruiser.
On impact the PT Cruiser burst into flames but both people inside, 24-year old Azayna Hayes and 20-year old Amanda Fader, were able to escape.
"Anytime there is a head-on collision on an interstate highway, you're dealing with people traveling maybe 65 or 70 miles an hour, you know, the impact did cause a fire," said FHP spokesman Sgt. Mark Wysocky.
Wysocky told CBS4's Peter D'Oench, "Anytime you have any driver driving the wrong way on the interstate highway, you have a very serious situation."
Herrera, Hayes and Fader all received serious injuries, according to the FHP. All three were taken to Memorial Regional Hospital.
"It could have been a fatal crash very easily," said Wysocky, "We've had several wrong way crashes that have resulted in fatalities. On this one we are very fortunate that the drivers were wearing their seat belts, its very important to wear a seat belt, it may have saved all their lives."
The FHP said the first report of Herrera's Honda Accord driving the wrong way on I-95 was in the area of Hollywood Boulevard.
Once it's determined where Herrera got on the highway, FHP can then look for any surveillance tape from businesses that may have captured her car in the area.
"Right now, we're not sure where to start," said Wysocky.
The FHP is awaiting test results to determine whether alcohol played a role in the crash.
Wysocky told D'Oench that the Florida Highway Patrol investigates at least one wrong-way crash every year that results in serious injuries and deaths.
