Multiple Fatal Crashes Hit Osceola County Highways

A deadly weekend on southern U.S. highways included major crashes in Osceola County, Florida, where five people were killed and seven injured when a van carrying 12 overturned on Florida's Turnpike, likely due to a tire malfunction. In a separate Osceola County incident, a 20-year-old woman died and three others were seriously injured after a Hyundai Sonata flipped on I-4, with none of the occupants wearing seatbelts. Additional fatal accidents occurred elsewhere in Florida, Arkansas, and West Virginia, with causes ranging from head-on collisions to suspected impairment and speed. Authorities continue to investigate all incidents, with the Florida Highway Patrol leading the Osceola County inquiries. The string of crashes contributed to a spike in highway fatalities over the weekend. Preliminary findings cite tire malfunction and lack of seatbelt use as contributing factors in the Osceola County crashes.