Car Accident News: PSLPD Officer Struck By Vehicle While Directing Traffic 

A Port St. Lucie police officer was struck and injured by a passing motorist Tuesday evening while he was directing traffic at the intersection of South East Felix Ave and South East Southbend Boulevard. 

The officer was transported tp the hospital by the St. Lucie County Fire District. He is in stable condition with non-life-threatening injuries. 

The officer, whose name has not been released, was among a group of officers who responded at 7:20 p.m. to a three-car accident at the intersection. He was directing traffic when at 8:12 p.m., while the vehicles involved in the accident were being towed, he was struck by a white Toyota Avalon traveling north on Southbend Boulevard. 

The vehicle’s front passenger bumper struck the Officer, causing him to roll onto the hood and into the windshield. The impact cracked the windshield and the Officer landed in the grass shoulder. 

The 60-year-old male driver of the Toyota Avalon was not injured. He was traveling home from work. At this time the crash is being classified as an accident. 

U.S. 1 North Of Roosevelt Bridge Shut Down As Quadruple Fatal Crash Under Investigation

U.S. 1 north of the Roosevelt Bridge, rescue officials reported. The crash involved a 2017 red Chrysler minivan and a 2022 Black Tesla sedan, each of which was transporting two people. Both drivers and both passengers died, said Martin County Chief Deputy John Budensiek. 

The incident caused significant traffic issues Tuesday afternoon, law enforcement officials said. 

The Martin County Sheriff’s Office said Baker Road and U.S. 1 would be closed for most of the afternoon and motorists were asked to avoid the area. The Florida Highway Patrol reported being dispatched to the crash at 12:48 p.m. and arriving at 1:06 p.m. 

The Tesla, driven by an 18-year-old man was traveling south on U.S. 1 within the inside lane approaching the intersection of Baker Road. His passenger was a 19-year-old woman. 

The van driven by a 70-year-old man was traveling north on U.S. 1 in the left turn lane, making a left turn within the intersection onto 14th street. His passenger was a 73-year-old woman. 

The front of the Tesla collided with the right front of the van. The Tesla overturned and caught on fire. The van came to a final rest on the grass shoulder of the intersection. 

The FHP did not identify those involved in the crash. 

Budensiek said a preliminary investigation shows the Tesla was going south at “an extremely high rate of speed” 

A significant amount of debris littered the intersection of Baker Road and U.S. 1 southbound. A van engine sat in the middle of U.S. 1 in front of the north end of Emerald Plaza. What appeared to be a large gear was even further south of that in the roadway. 

Martin county Sheriff’s vehicles as well as Marin County Fire Rescue and Florida Highway Patrol vehicles were at the scene. 

A handful of people gathered on a sidewalk on the west side of U.S. 1 just south of the crash. 

Car Accident News: Police Arrest Two Men For DUI In Port St. Lucie

Port St. Lucie police officers on patrol announced they arrested two people who had been drinking and were tested over the legal limit.

On Crosstown Parkway, they stopped the driver of a black Infinity for going 60 mph in a 45 mph zone.

The officers reported when they approached the car, the 65-year-0old driver had an open Michelob Ultra beer bottle stuffed between the seat and the center console.

The driver received a speeding ticket and was arrested for a DUI.

Then a few hours later officers found a 31-year-old man trying to get his golf Mini Cooper out of a ditch.

This incident happened in the area of SW Biltmore Street and Whitmore Drive.

They said he was having trouble because he was intoxicated and because the car was so deep in the ditch, one of his wheels wasn’t even touching the ground.

The driver was arrested with more than two times the legal limit.

Car Accident News: 21-Year-Old Man Seriously Injured After Getting Hit By A Car On Okeechobee Boulevard

In West Palm Beach a 21-year-old pedestrian, Kevin Vasquez of West Palm Beach, was hit by a car and was critically injured this past Sunday near Haverhill Road. 

The collision occurred on Okeechobee Boulevard around midnight, the Boca Post reported. 

The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office reports that just after 12:00 a.m. deputies responded to the area of Haverhill Road and Okeechobee Boulevard in West Palm Beach in reference to a vehicle versus pedestrian accident. 

Responding PBSO district deputies and Palm Beach County Fire Rescue located a pedestrian, identified as Kevin Vasquez, 21, of West Palm Beach, in critical condition at the scene. According to officials, Vasquez was struck by a vehicle while crossing the street illegally.

PBSO Traffic Homicide Unit detectives were notified and began an investigation into the incident. Detectives report that Cedric Carter, 37, was driving a Jeep Grand Cherokee westbound on Okeechobee Boulevard in the outside lane with a green light. At the same time, Vasquez was walking in a southbound direction, outside the nearby marked crosswalk. 

Carter stated he saw Vasquez but thought he was going to stop. Carter continued driving westbound as Vasquez continued to improperly cross the roadway. Investigators say that Vasquez violated Carter’s right of way and struck the right side of the jeep.