OCALA When 20-year-old state Trooper Raul Umana pulled away from a roadside stop on Interstate 75 just before dark May 18, he tried to make a quick U-turn. But he took the corner too fast at an estimated 34 mph.
The consequences were devastating, according to a four-month investigation detailed in a report recently released by the Florida Highway Patrol.
It provides a second-by-second recreation of what happened that evening: Umana lost control of his patrol car, clipped a guardrail, bounced into oncoming traffic and collided with the car of an Orlando mother, triggering a four-vehicle crash that left three young Orlando children critically injured.
Umana made an "improper turn," according to the report, and was ticketed for careless driving. He's scheduled to appear in traffic court Oct. 21.
The car he hit was driven by Christeia Jones, a 28-year-old Orlando mother who had her boys ages 2, 5 and 7 in the back seat. She was driving 88 mph, according to the report, but was not ticketed.
Her car hit the front edge of the cruiser, according to the FHP report, but the greatest damage happened 2.7 seconds later when she was slammed from the rear by an 18-wheeler that was hauling 31,000 pounds of meat.
The driver of the 18-wheeler, William Richmond, 72, of Detroit, saw Jones' children trapped in their car. Two were pinned on the back floorboard beneath seats, he said.
Richmond said the crash should never have happened. "I've got grandkids," he said. "When I got home, I quit. I don't drive no more."
The FHP concluded that every driver involved in the crash, except for the trucker, was in the wrong. Umana was the only one ticketed.
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news...sh-three-children-injured-20141005-story.html
Trooper ticketed after crash
Discussion in 'Trucking Accidents' started by gpsman, Oct 9, 2014.
-
-
Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds
Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.
-
Surprised the headline doesn't read "3 children in critical condition after meat truck fails to stop".
w.h.o, gpsman, Charli Girl and 3 others Thank this. -
Stupid kid. And I'm talking about the trooper here.
Twenty-year-old trooper? wtf. -
88 mph, yeah thats about right for 4 wheelers on I 75. -
Holy cow. Now THIS is really news worthy... "The FHP concluded that every driver involved in the crash, except for the trucker, was in the wrong."
Hope those kids healed up ok. Just goes to show that LEOs ARE human after all.
Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds
Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.