A chaotic and tragic sequence of events occurred on Interstate 4 early this Memorial Day morning, killing a 23-year-old Tennessee man who was struck by multiple vehicles following an initial single-car crash, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
The fatal incident began around 3:30 a.m. near Mile Marker 64, which is a busy corridor, especially during the holidays.
According to FHP investigators, a 23-year-old Kissimmee man was driving a 2024 Kia Forte on the westbound I-4 exit ramp to US Highway 192 when he lost control on a right-hand curve.
Troopers say the driver failed to negotiate the curve and veered off the road, hitting an inside shoulder guardrail. The impact launched the vehicle into the air, where it collided with a tree and a barrier wall before overturning.
Both the driver and his passenger, a 23-year-old man from Clarksville, Tennessee, managed to escape the wreckage.
The driver of the Kia then walked to a nearby hotel for assistance before being transported to a local hospital with what officials described as minor injuries.
However, the passenger’s actions had a devastating impact.
Troopers said he walked northeast from the crash site, crossing I-4’s eastbound lanes. However, as he attempted to cross the westbound lanes, he was struck by an approaching 2024 Honda Odyssey driven by a St. Petersburg man.
According to investigators, the impact threw the Tennessee man into the center lane, where he was reportedly struck by at least one other vehicle.
The 23-year-old man was pronounced dead on the scene. There were no other injuries reported in connection with the incident.
