Two Deadly Crashes claim young Lives in Martin county
MARTIN COUNTY, Fla. – The Martin County Sheriff’s Office has been investigating two separate crashes in recent days that have tragically claimed the lives of young people and left others with serious injuries.
On Saturday night,a 20-year-old driver was killed when they lost control of their vehicle on Sea Branch Boulevard near U.S.1 and crashed into a tree. The vehicle later caught fire. despite being transported to a hospital,the driver succumbed to their injuries Sunday morning.
“The impact was so significant that the engine was actually catapulted from the car…about 85 feet across two lanes of traffic and landed on the sidewalk,” said Martin County Sheriff John Budensiek. A 20-year-old passenger was able to escape the burning vehicle with the help of a bystander.
According to Sheriff Budensiek, a deputy who took a witness statement was deeply affected by the scene. “they were running the spectrum of emotions, from if we would have been a few seconds earlier, we would have been involved in this crash.”
This follows a crash Friday night in Hobe Sound that resulted in the deaths of a 17-year-old boy and a 16-year-old girl. A 13-year-old passenger was transported to St. Mary’s Medical Center in West Palm Beach with serious injuries. Witnesses reported the vehicle involved in the Hobe Sound crash did not slow down for a stop sign before entering the path of another vehicle on Bridge Road.
“This marks a somber start to the new year on our roadways,” the Martin County Sheriff’s Office stated Sunday. “The Martin County Sheriff’s Office urges all drivers – especially younger drivers – to slow down and remain attentive at all times, particularly during nighttime hours.”
The Florida Highway Patrol is currently investigating both crashes. The investigation into the Bridge road crash will involve examining vehicle computers, searching for surveillance footage, and collecting witness statements – a process expected to take approximately 60 days. The investigation into the Sea Branch Boulevard crash is elaborate by the extensive fire damage to the vehicle.