Fatal Crash On US 41 Highlights Drivers Need To Increase Awareness On Charlotte County Roads
Brian O Sutter
Traffic Accidents
As auto accident attorneys representing Charlotte County over the past 30 years, we have seen our share of deadly auto accidents. Too often, drivers involved in the crash could have avoided the accident if they had stayed more vigilant, stopped for a red light, or simply slowed down. Many roads in Charlotte County have become more dangerous due to population growth and the expansion of the community. With A lot more people driving in our area than ever before, the need to stay vigilant, and drive defensively is even more important. Many our area's busiest intersections like US 41 and Veterans Blvd, Harbor View Dr at the 75 interchange or Kings Highway at 41, have become more dangerous with frequent traffic congestion, and have greater potential for serious crashes.
Tragically, a recent traffic accident that occurred near Punta Gorda caused a passenger, and their child to lose their lives and reminds us to always drive safely through intersections in Charlotte County.
Two Dead and One Critically Injured In A Three-Car Accident On US 41 Near Zemel Road
Florida Highway Patrol has reported a terrible multi-vehicle auto accident that resulted in two deaths including a child, and another driver critically injured after a collision Monday morning in Charlotte County on US 41 near Zemel Road.
According to the report, the fatal crash began as a 28-year-old man from Zephyrhills, Florida was driving a pickup truck towing a utility trailer, with four passengers all from Dade City Florida including, a 27-year-old man, a 41-year-old man, a 38-year-old, man, and a 30-year-old man were traveling south on US-41, approaching Zemel Road.
As the pickup truck was driving south, a sport utility driven by a 35-year-old woman from Cape Coral Florida was traveling northbound on US-41, also approaching Zemel Road, and closing on the oncoming pickup truck lawfully in the opposite lane.
Following near the SUV, also heading northbound, was a sedan driven by a 48-year-old woman from Miami Florida, with a 64-year-old woman from Cape Coral traveling as a passenger.
Ahead of the southbound pickup truck a semi-truck / trailer was stopped in the paved median of US 41, blocking the southbound travel lanes of US 41 as the pickup truck and vehicles closed the distance between each other.
At 7:50:00 AM the driver of the pickup truck towing a utility trailer lost control of the vehicle and crossed the median entering the path of the oncoming sport utility vehicle. The front of the pickup truck towing a utility trailer collided with the front of the sport utility vehicle at speed.
After the initial collision, the sport utility vehicle traveled into the right lane where the front of the sedan then collided with the side of the sport utility vehicle.
The woman from Cape Coral driving the SUV was critically injured in the initial collision, and her child also died as a result of the crash.
The 64-year-old woman from Cape Coral who was a passenger in the sedan following the SUV was fatally injured in the crash.
All other parties involved in the accident also suffered minor injuries.
FHP has stated that they are investigating the accident and determining why the tractor-trailer was parked partially blocking the road way.