Even more of a reason why we need a real vehicle inspection!!
Driver in wrong-way crash that killed 4 had suspended license
BY KATHLEEN McGRORY
COURTESY OF WFOR-CBS 4
Four people died in a head-on collision on I-595 West in Fort Lauderdale early Friday morning.
One of the drivers killed Friday morning when two cars going in opposite directions collided on westbound Interstate 595, killing all four occupants, had a suspended license, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
The suspension followed a traffic citation, later dismissed, for ''driving the wrong way,'' county records show.
However, FHP has yet to say whether he or the other motorist was at fault in the crash.
The accident happened just before 1:30 a.m. east of the intersection with Interstate 95, said Sgt. Mark Wysocky, a spokesman for the Florida Highway Patrol. All four adults involved died on the scene.
Marvin Gillett, 41, of Hollywood, was behind the wheel of a white Chrysler. He was driving with a suspended license, authorities said.
Authorities didn't release the name of the other driver, as they had yet to notify his next of kin. They identified the two passengers in his red Buick as Gloria Mackay, 67, of Fort Lauderdale; and Crystal Schneider, 38, of Centerville, Minn.
It was not immediately clear which driver was traveling the wrong way.
Rauqua Eres, who was driving west on I-595 early Friday, told reporters he watched one of the vehicles slam directly into the other.
''I saw a little flame coming out of the car,'' said Eres, who called 911.
The four victims had to be extracted from their vehicles.
''It was a pretty significant impact,'' Wysocky said. ``At one point, there were almost two dozen fire rescue personnel there.''
Troopers worked through the night to clear wreckage and investigate. The location -- west of Fort Lauderdale Hollywood International Airport and southwest of downtown Fort Lauderdale -- sees heavy traffic each morning, although mostly in the eastbound lanes.
The westbound lanes reopened shortly before dawn.
It was not immediately clear how one of the cars ended up traveling the wrong way down the highway. Authorities were investigating to see if alcohol played a part in the crash.
Researcher Scott Hutchinson and Miami Herald news partner WFOR-CBS 4 contributed to this report