5 dead, 7 injured when van rolls over on Florida’s Turnpike in Osceola County

OSCEOLA COUNTY, Fla. – Five people were killed and seven others were injured Sunday night in a single-vehicle rollover crash that closed the northbound lanes of Florida’s Turnpike in Osceola County, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

The crash was reported around 7:35 p.m. in the Kenansville area at mile marker 211. Northbound lanes of the Turnpike were closed for nearly 12 hours before reopening Monday morning.

[Watch video below to see footage from the scene]

According to the FHP, the driver of a 2004 E-350 lost control of the vehicle due to a possible tire malfunction, causing the van to overturn several times and strike a guardrail before landing in a ditch.

Five van passengers were pronounced dead at the scene, including a 29-year-old Fort Pierce man; a 54-year-old Fort Pierce man; and a 73-year-old Fort Pierce woman, the FHP said.

The other two women who died in the crash have not yet been identified, according to an FHP crash report.

The driver, a 66-year-old Fort Pierce man, was taken to Osceola Regional Medical Center with serious injuries, according to troopers.

All six surviving passengers, ranging in age from 46 to 75, suffered critical or serious injuries, the FHP said.

Four of them were airlifted to Osceola Regional Medical Center, and the other two were taken via air care to Holmes Regional Medical Center, the FHP crash report stated.

Traffic was diverted to State Road 60 at exit 193 while the Turnpike was closed.

The crash remains under investigation.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.