FELLSMERE – A Vero Beach man died after a multiple-vehicle pileup this morning on Interstate 95 near the Fellsmere exit Tuesday morning, the Florida Highway Patrol said.
Officers with the Fellsmere Police Department and FHP troopers responded to the crash Tuesday at 6:11 a.m. near mile marker 159 on I-95.
Troopers say 45-year-old Tracey Williams, of Fort Pierce, was traveling in the center lane going north when she blew a tire on her 2000 Volvo.
While attempting to make her way to the left shoulder of the highway, a Melbourne woman traveling behind her tried to avoid a collision with Williams.
However, Katrina Steele, 26, lost control and crashed into the back of a trailer Williams was towing, according to the FHP.
At the same time, a third vehicle also crashed near the center lane into the back of Williams’ trailer. The 2006 Pontiac was then struck by a 2016 Volkswagon Jetta driven by 40-year-old Desmond Smith of Daytona Beach, FHP said.
The Pontiac turned over and landed upright in the center and right lanes. The driver of that vehicle, 53-year-old William Conn, died at the scene.
Also approaching the accident scene was Matthew Hardy, 34, driving a 2017 Audi. He saw the Chevy’s headlights facing southward and swerved right. He then saw Williams’ vehicle and swerved left. He crashed into Williams’ trailer and came to a rest in the median.
No other injuries were reported, according to the FHP. The crash is still under investigation.
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