Overview

• The southbound lanes of I-95 near Sebastian were closed for hours after the July 6 chain-reaction collision and have now been fully reopened by state troopers.
• A 77-year-old Vermont man was struck and killed after a Dodge Ram pickup failed to stop in time, rear-ending a slowed vehicle and propelling it into him as he crossed the highway to save a turtle.
• Florida Highway Patrol confirmed that the Port St. Lucie pickup driver and the occupants of the slowed vehicle—a Miami woman and her passenger—escaped without injury.
• The fatal accident highlights the dangers faced by Good Samaritans rescuing animals on busy highways and reveals that Florida’s Good Samaritan law does not protect roadside wildlife rescues.
• The incident occurred during the busy Fourth of July weekend, underscoring the frequency of turtle crossings on I-95 and the potential for severe traffic disruptions during peak travel periods.