Mother, grandmother and two children killed in crash near Disney World, troopers say
A family of seven on a Florida vacation from Massachusetts was involved in a deadly crash Tuesday afternoon near Walt Disney World that left four of them dead.
Around 5:30 p.m., four cars were heading down State Road 429, the Florida Highway Patrol said. A Dodge pickup truck, driven by 26-year-old Lucas Dos Reis Laurindo, was behind the family’s Toyota van.
The family members in the van were driver Shane Smith, 43, and passengers Julie Smith, 41; Scarlett Smith, 5; Skylar Smith, 5; Shalie Smith, 10; Jackson Smith, 11; William Fay, 76; and Josephine Fay, 76.
In congested traffic, Smith slowed down, but Laurindo did not. His pickup slammed into the back of the van, overturning it.
The front of the van then hit cars driven by Randy Ferrell and Yuju Lee.
Scarlett, Julie and Josephine Smith were killed in the crash. Shane and William were taken to Orlando Health, and Jackson, Skyler and Shalie were taken to the Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children, FHP said. Jackson died at the hospital.
The crash killed the mom, a grandmother and two children. Those taken to the hospital suffered minor injuries.
The investigation is ongoing and charges are pending against Laurindo.
%20Cropped%20(2).jpg)