The 12 people were riding in a 2004 Ford F-350 van, like this one pictured. (Photo/Cars.com)
MONDAY UPDATE: Florida Highway Patrol investigators have released the information on a deadly crash that occurred on the northbound side of Florida's Turnpike Sunday evening that closed the road into Monday morning.
FHP reports five of the 12 people riding in a 2004 Ford E-350 van were killed just after 7:30 p.m. when troopers said the driver, a 66-year-old Fort Pierce man, lost control due to a possible tire malfunction around mile marker 211 about 20 miles north of the Yeehaw Junction/State Road 60 exit, and about 30 miles south of Clay Whaley Road. The van reportedly overturned several times, ran off the right side of the roadway, struck a guardrail and overturned into a ditch.
The driver and four passengers were transported to HCA Florida Osceola Hospital, and two others were taken via air care to Holmes Regional Medical Center in Melbourne. Five other passengers were pronounced dead on the scene: 29 and 54-year-old men and a 73-year-old woman from Fort Pierce, and two unidentified women.
Northbound Turnpike traffic was diverted onto State Road 60 through 7:30 a.m. Monday due to the investigation.
SUNDAY NIGHT: While information is still limited, Florida Highway Patrol is reporting five people were killed in a single-car crash on northbound Florida's Turnpike about 20 miles north of the Yeehaw Junction/State Road 60 exit.
According to FHP, the crash that occurred just after 7:30 p.m. involved a 2004 E-350 Van at mile marker 211 in Kenansville. There have been five confirmed fatalities on-scene. Multiple occupants were transported to area hospitals via air care.
As of 9:30 p.m., northbound traffic is being diverted off at State Road 60 (Exit 193).
