2 killed in wrong-way turnpike crash in South Miami-Dade

Two young men died Sunday morning in a violent wrong-way wreck on Florida’s Turnpike in deep South Miami-Dade.

The accident happened at about 3 a.m. near Exit 2, Campbell Drive, in Homestead.

According to the Florida Highway Patrol, Pierre Schneider, 23, was heading north in his Kia Optima in the southbound lanes. Jonathan Velez, 19, driving a Volkswagen Beetle, was heading south and attempted an “evasive maneuver,” according to the FHP, but was not successful.

The cars collided and both drivers were killed.

FHP Spokesman Joe Sanchez said it wasn’t clear how Schneider was able to enter the highway going the wrong direction. He said that speed was likely a factor in the crash that left both cars mangled.

He said drivers need to know that if the street reflectors shine white then they are in the clear but if a driver sees red, then they are going in the wrong direction.

“Unfortunately two lives were lost in this head-on collision,” he said.

This story was originally published July 20, 2015 at 6:17 AM with the headline "2 killed in wrong-way turnpike crash in South Miami-Dade."