The Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) reports that 24-year-old Aeriel Peifer (no state of residence given) died as a result of injuries sustained in an Aug. 11th crash at Mile Marker 130 on I-10 Saturday morning.
According to the FHP, Johanna Ruiz, 33, of Hialeah, Florida, received critical injuries in the crash and later died of those injuries, and three others received minor injuries in the incident, while 11 others were listed as having received no injuries.
According to the FHP press release, a 2005 Niaan Altima was entering the Interstate from the westbound entrance ramp and the driver apparently lost control at the top of the ramp and struck a guardrail in the median. That vehicle became disabled in the westbound lanes of I-10.
The driver and passenger exited the vehicle and walked to the north shoulder of I-10.
The next three drivers saw the disabled vehicle and stopped on the north shoulder of the Interstate to assist. The driver of one of the vehicles exited her vehicle leaving two child passengers inside the vehicle.
An International semi driven by Steven Downs, 33, of Northport, Florida, subsequently struck the Nissan. The semi continued traveling and struck several more of the stopped vehicles. The trailer crossed the bridge rail and separated from the tractor. The trailer then dropped from the bridge and landed on the train tracks below.
That section of I-10 was closed for several hours, but was later re-opened.