Brevard County, FL – May 2, 2025 — A deadly hit-and-run crash shut down Interstate 95 southbound for several hours Friday morning after a tractor-trailer veered off the roadway and killed two men working along the shoulder.
The Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) confirmed that the crash occurred at approximately 9:50 a.m. near mile marker 172 in Brevard County. According to investigators, a 2021 Freightliner Cascadia was traveling southbound when it abruptly drove off the road and onto the grassy shoulder.
At the time of the incident, a 2023 Ram 1500 pickup truck was parked legally on the shoulder while two surveyors — a 22-year-old man from Enterprise and a 41-year-old man from Deltona — were walking nearby as part of their work. The semi struck the parked pickup before continuing on and fatally hitting both pedestrians.
The victims were pronounced dead at the scene. Their names have not yet been released pending notification of next of kin.
A 21-year-old passenger inside the pickup truck was not injured and remained at the scene to speak with authorities.
The tractor-trailer driver fled the scene immediately after the collision, triggering a multi-county manhunt. FHP troopers eventually located the suspect and the vehicle over 125 miles south, near mile marker 45 in Palm Beach County. The driver has been taken into custody. His identity has not been made public at this time, and charges are pending as part of an active homicide investigation.
The Florida Department of Transportation and law enforcement agencies closed portions of I-95 southbound for several hours during the investigation and recovery efforts, causing extensive traffic delays.
FHP’s Corporal Wenzel is leading the ongoing homicide investigation, while Trooper Lopez is the primary crash investigator. Authorities urge any witnesses or individuals with dashcam footage from the area to contact Troop D of the Florida Highway Patrol.
This tragic incident marks yet another reminder of the dangers roadside workers face and the deadly consequences of leaving the scene of a crash. More details will be released as the investigation progresses.
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