Five Dead in Lake Worth, Florida Car Accident
LAKE WORTH – Five were killed and three were injured in a car accident on Florida’s Turnpike near the Lake Worth service plaza just south of Southern Boulevard on Friday, October 17 around 11:30 p.m. The single vehicle accident was the result of a rear tire which blew, causing the driver, Moline Etienne, 23, to lose control of the 2000 Ford Expedition. The SUV flipped over and stopped in an upside down position in a deep canal.
The deceased include three children – Natayel Meyer, 10, Malesha Louis, 5, and Roodandray Louis, 3. The driver, Etienne, and another passenger, Shelley Peters, 30, were the other two killed in the accident. None of the children were in safety seats, and not all passengers were wearing seat belts. Roodandray’s body wasn’t found until the next morning by Palm Beach County Fire Rescue firefighters and divers who searched the canal and shoulder of the road as long as possible before suspending the search until morning.
The remaining three passengers were taken to Delray Medical Center for treatment. Gina Merceron, 41, the car’s owner and a certified nursing assistant, was treated for a minor eye injury and released the next day. Shadrack Gustave, 6, is said to be in serious condition, while Enichka Maurice, 15, is in satisfactory condition.
The group began in Orlando and was on their way to Fort Lauderdale.
Some lawsuits have been filed against Ford Motors, blaming the design of the 2000 Ford Expedition for rollover accidents. The arguments have pointed to the top-heavy design, as well as insufficient door latches and safety glass. Neither the vehicle nor the tire is under recall, however.
Personal injuries due to automobile accidents are among the practice areas represented by Alitowski & Moore, P.A. If you have been injured in an accident, contact a Broward County/Dade County/Palm Beach Injury Attorney/Lawyer, and find out if you could be eligible to receive monetary damages. Offices are located in Fort Lauderdale and North Miami Beach.
