Memorial Day was met with tragedy on Interstate 4 at the U.S. Highway 192 interchange in Osceola County as a 23-year-old man from Clarksville, Tenn. was killed after trying to cross the roadway after a prior in a crash, Florida Highway Patrol reports.
The crash had all I-4 westbound lanes in the area closed through about 7 a.m.
According to FHP's report, a Kia Forte driven by a 23-year-old Kissimmee man was exiting I-4 West onto 192 around 3:30 a.m. and lost control on a right-hand curve on the offramp. The car struck the guardrail and became airborne, then hit a tree and barrier wall and overturned. Troopers say he and the passenger from Tennessee went to a nearby motel to get help. The driver was transported to a hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
About 30 minutes later, the Tennessee man, possibly returning to the crash scene, cross the eastbound lanes and the median of I-4. While crossing the westbound lanes, troopers say he crossed into the path of a Honda Odyssey driven by a St. Petersburg man and was struck, ending up in the center lane. He was pronounced dead on scene.
Investigators say they believe another vehicle may have struck the man while he lay on the roadway. Anyone with information into this incident is asked to call FHP at 407-737-2213 or Crimeline at 800-423-TIPS, as the crash remains under investigation.
