BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. – A 20-year-old woman from Palm Bay died on Interstate 95 in Brevard County after an unusual and deadly chain of events that began with an alligator in the roadway, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. Troopers said they are still searching for a hit-and-run driver who left the scene.
The fatal crash happened shortly before midnight Sunday in the southbound lanes of I-95 near mile marker 214, an area between Palm Bay and Melbourne, investigators said.
An FHP crash report said a 2010 Mercedes-Benz E-350 hit an alligator that was in the center lane. Moments later, a 2004 Toyota Tacoma traveling behind the Mercedes swerved, went out of control and overturned. The impact threw the Tacoma’s driver into the center lane, where she was then struck by another vehicle that did not stop, troopers said.
The Palm Bay woman driving the Tacoma was not wearing a seatbelt and was pronounced dead at the scene, according to authorities. The Mercedes driver, identified only as a 58-year-old man from Canada, was unhurt and stayed at the crash site, FHP said.
Florida Highway Patrol investigators continue to examine the I-95 crash and are working to identify the vehicle and driver involved in the hit-and-run.
Anyone with information is asked to contact FHP at *347 or Crimeline at 1-800-423-TIPS.
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