-
Osceola County Fire Rescue works the fatal traffic crash on State Road 429 on Tuesday. PHOTO/OSCEOLA COUNTY FIRE RESCUE
Three people were killed on Tuesday, including a 5-year-old girl in an Osceola County traffic crash, after a van with eight occupants, was hit from behind on State Road 429.
According to a Florida Highway Patrol report, Shane Smith, 43, of Massachusetts, was driving a 2020 Toyota van southbound on S.R. 429 at about 5:30 p.m., when he slowed down for traffic.
However, Lucas Dos Reis Laurindo, 26, of Kissimmee, who was driving a 2016 Dodge pick-up truck, failed to slow down and hit the van from behind.
The van, which was filled with eight people from Massachusetts, then overturned on its side due to the collision.
Troopers said Julie Smith, 41, Scarlett Smith, 5, and Josephine Fay, 76, who were in the van, were pronounced dead at the scene. Jackson Smith, 11, later died at Arnold Palmer hospital.
Shane Smith and the rest of the passengers were taken to hospitals with minor injuries.
All the occupants in the van were wearing sea belts, the report stated.
Laurindo also hit a 2014 Chrysler, 27, driven by Randy Ferrell, 27, of Auburndale, and a 2018 Nissan vehicle, driven by Yuju Lee, 29, of Sanford. Neither was injured.
Laurindo wasn’t injured either. Alcohol was not a factor, the report stated. He is facing charges in the crash.
