Four Killed in Crash During Florida Police Pursuit

April 3, 2013
Opa-locka police were pursuing an SUV when the driver began traveling the wrong way on I-95.

Police have reopened southbound Interstate 95 after four people were killed early Wednesday in a wrong-way crash.

The crash happened around 1 a.m. on I-95 south of Hallandale Beach Boulevard. Lanes were reopened at 9 a.m.

According to preliminary information from the Florida Highway Patrol, Opa-locka police were pursuing a Chevy Suburban SUV when the driver got onto I-95 at Ives Dairy Road in Northeast Miami-Dade, traveling northbound in the southbound lanes. Police say the stopped pursuing before the car entered the highway.

The wrong-way SUV then crashed into a minivan at Hallandale Beach, killing four people inside, according to a preliminary report from FHP. The suspect was taken to the hospital with two broken legs. Police say someone tossed a gun from the SUV.

Investigators have removed two bodies from the minivan and planned to tow the vehicle to the medical examiner's office with the other two bodies.

Through rush hour, investigators were on the highway as road cleanup began. Pieces of the minivan were scattered across the road. The Suburban's engine popped from the SUV on impact and flew about 25 feet into a middle lane.

Opa-locka spokesman David Chiverton told reporters at the scene that officers stopped pursuing the Suburban before the SUV entered I-95.

"Our officers were not behind him at that time," he said.

All southbound lanes were shut down between Hallandale Beach and Ives Dairy Road for about eight hours.

Southbound traffic had to exit at Hallandale Beach Boulevard. The northbound lanes are not affected.

This article will be updated as more information becomes available.

Miami Herald staff writers Julie K. Brown and Walter Michot contributed to this report from the scene.

Copyright 2013 - The Miami Herald

McClatchy-Tribune News Service

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