LAKE COUNTY, Fla. (WTXL) - The two people who were killed in a seven car crash on the Florida Turnpike Sunday were students at Florida State, according to the university.
Troopers said that all seven cars were traveling northbound on the Florida Turnpike approaching mile-marker 291 on Sunday afternoon, when the seventh driver, who is unknown, stopped for traffic ahead.
FHP said that everyone else behind the car stopped, except for the car driven by 32-year-old Bilal Ead for an unknown reason.
His car ended up hitting the car in front of him, driven by 19-year-old Maria Cardenas, which caused her to hit the car in front of her, setting off the chain reaction that led five more cars to crash into the back of each other.
Valentina Martinez and Antonio Mesa, who were riding in the car with Cardenas, were both killed in the accident. FSU confirmed that both were students at the school.
Ead, Cardenas, and Aztli Jiminez, who was also riding with Cardenas, were all hospitalized in serious condition.
Keonshica Parrish, driver of car three, Jay Pearlman, driver of car four, Robert Williams Jr, driver of car five, and Kathleen Moschos, driver of car six, all suffered minor injuries.
Troopers say that the driver of car seven, who is unknown, failed to stay at the scene and continued traveling northbound on the turnpike.
FHP says that the crash is still under investigation.
A Go Fund Me page has been started for Valentina Martinez here.
