Fatal crash involving Kissimmee woman shows importance of "Move Over Law"

A second fatal crash in the span of under two hours on Florida's Turnpike early Monday morning that involved a Kissimmee woman showed the importance of moving over a lane or slowing down for emergency vehicles on roadways.

According to Florida Highway Patrol, a 32-year-old old Kissimmee woman was killed at Mile Marker 269 in northwest Orange County around 5 a.m. when she failed to slow for an activated Road Ranger responding to another fatal crash that occurred at 3:20 a.m. in the same place.

According to an incident report, only the left southbound lane was open due to the response and investigation of the earlier crash. The Road Ranger was parked in the lane next to the open southbound lane, with lights and an arrow board activated. There were cones directing traffic to the open left lane.

The woman, driving a sedan, failed to slow — for an unknown reason per FHP — traveled through the cones and struck the rear of the Road Ranger with the front of her car.

The woman later died at a local hospital. The Road Ranger driver received minor injuries; it's unclear if he was inside or outside the vehicle.

January is Move Over Month. In Florida, it's a state law drivers must, if practical, move one lane over from stopped law enforcement, emergency, sanitation, and utility service vehicles, tow trucks or wreckers, and maintenance or construction vehicles with displayed warning lights without advanced signs or channelizing devices. If you can't move over or on a two-lane road, slow to a speed that is 20 mph less than the posted speed limit or to 5 mph when the posted speed limit is 20 mph or less.

"We remind drivers that they need to pay attention as crash scenes, as we are having more emergency vehicles struck, while actively assisting at another crash," FHP Spokesperson Lt. Kim Montes said.