MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA - A series of devastating, back-to-back wrong-way crashes on Florida's Turnpike in Miami-Dade County early Sunday morning resulted in two fatalities and two people being hospitalized with serious injuries. The Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) is currently investigating the highly unusual incident involving two separate wrong-way drivers.
Crash Details and Fatalities
The initial collision occurred on the northbound lanes of the Turnpike near Bird Road at approximately 4 a.m.
According to the FHP, a blue Honda that was traveling the wrong direction (southbound in the northbound lanes) collided head-on with a silver Toyota. The drivers of both vehicles were pronounced dead at the scene.
One of the victims was later identified by family members as Gustavo Adolfo Palma Romero, 23, who was reportedly days away from his 24th birthday. Romero was in the silver Toyota, traveling in the correct direction.
Secondary Collision and Injuries
Following the initial crash, both vehicles were disabled and blocking the roadway. This led to a second collision when a separate white Toyota, which was also driving the wrong way, struck the two disabled vehicles and a responding FHP patrol car. Video footage shared by the social media page Only in Dade captured moments before the second impact.
The two occupants of the white Toyota sustained serious injuries and were airlifted to Kendall HCA Hospital. An FHP trooper who was outside of their vehicle at the time of the second crash was not injured.
Investigation Underway
All northbound lanes of the Turnpike were shut down and traffic was diverted onto Bird Road for the FHP investigation. Authorities are working to determine how two different vehicles ended up traveling the wrong way on the highway and whether the two wrong-way drivers knew each other or were connected. The FHP has not released the identities of all involved, as the investigation remains active.
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