From the Florida Highway Patrol and Staff Reports
In Summary:
A Palm Bay woman died in a crash shortly before midnight Sunday on southbound Interstate 95 in Brevard County. FHP said she lost control of her pickup while attempting to avoid a Mercedes that had struck an alligator in the roadway, causing the pickup to overturn and eject her. An unidentified vehicle subsequently struck the woman and left the scene.
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A 20-year-old Palm Bay woman was killed late Sunday in a multi-vehicle crash on Interstate 95 in Brevard County after a driver struck an alligator in the roadway, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
The crash occurred at approximately 11:52 pm near mile marker 214 in the southbound lanes of I-95.
According to the FHP report, a 58-year-old Canadian man was driving a 2010 Mercedes-Benz E-350 south in the center lane when he saw an alligator in the roadway and was unable to avoid it. The front-left side of the vehicle struck the animal.
The Palm Bay woman, driving a 2004 Toyota Tacoma south behind the Mercedes, swerved in an attempt to avoid the vehicle ahead and lost control of the pickup, investigators said. The Tacoma overturned, ejecting the woman into the center lane.
An unidentified southbound vehicle then struck the woman and left the scene, according to FHP. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
The FHP report indicated that the woman was not wearing a seat belt.
The Mercedes driver was not injured, remained at the scene, and was not transported to a hospital.
The crash remains under investigation. Anyone with information about the unidentified vehicle or its driver is asked to call FHP at *347 or Crimeline at 1-800-423-TIPS.
Key Points:
- The crash occurred at approximately 11:52 pm on August 30 near mile marker 214 on southbound I-95.
- A Mercedes-Benz E-350 struck an alligator that was in the roadway.
- A 20-year-old Palm Bay woman swerved to avoid the vehicle ahead, lost control of her Toyota Tacoma, and was ejected when it overturned.
- An unidentified vehicle struck the woman in the center lane and fled the scene.
- Anyone with information is asked to call FHP at *347 or Crimeline at 1-800-423-TIPS.
This is a breaking news update and may be updated again as more details become known.
