(FL) Road Ranger killed, hit at crash scene on I-95 near Lantana Road
PALM BEACH COUNTY, Fla. (CBS12) — A 23-year-old Road Ranger was killed early Sunday when a car entered a lane closure on northbound I-95 near Lantana Road, striking him before crashing into a marked Florida Highway Patrol cruiser, according to FHP.
The road ranger, identified as a West Palm Beach man, died at the scene. FHP said his family has been notified, but his name has not been released.
The crash happened around 2:07 a.m. on Oct. 25 while troopers were investigating an earlier crash just south of Lantana Road.
According to FHP, a fully marked Dodge Charger was positioned across the two leftmost northbound lanes with its emergency lights activated for a lane closure.
An 18-year-old Lake Worth woman driving a 2019 Mercedes sedan entered the closure and struck the Road Ranger, investigators said. The Mercedes then rotated and collided with the FHP cruiser.
The driver was taken to JFK South for treatment of injuries FHP described as non-incapacitating.
Road Rangers provide roadside assistance and help with traffic incidents alongside law enforcement. They are civilian workers, not state troopers.
Boynton Beach Police confirmed an on-duty officer was helping FHP with traffic control when the crash happened. The officer was not involved in the collision and was not injured, the department said.
Video obtained by CBS12 News shows a light-colored car with extensive front-end damage and a large emergency response, including Palm Beach County Fire Rescue, Lantana Police, Boynton Beach Police and FHP.
Northbound lanes were closed for several hours. FHP said the outside northbound lane reopened at 8:34 a.m.
For those who work along busy roads, the death is a painful reminder of the dangers they face while helping drivers.
"He's just doing his job," said Stephanie Beck, president of Beck's Towing in Boynton Beach. "Our lives are worth something. My guys' lives are worth something."
Beck told CBS12 News she no longer sends her tow truck drivers onto I-95 because she fears for their safety.
"I don't wanna risk their lives," Beck said.
She believes drivers often fail to pay attention to roadside workers and emergency vehicles.
"People aren't paying attention. They're on their phones. They're in a rush. They're going around fire trucks. They're going around police cars," Beck said.
Florida's Move Over law requires drivers to move over a lane when approaching a stopped vehicle displaying flashing or hazard lights, if it is safe to do so. The law applies to emergency responders, law enforcement, construction crews and drivers with disabled vehicles. If changing lanes is not possible, drivers should slow down and proceed with caution.
"Florida's Move Over law exists for one very important reason, to protect the people who put themselves in harm's way to keep the rest of us safe," said Andrew Boloy, a trial attorney with The Eberst Law Firm.
In Sunday's crash, FHP said the 18-year-old driver entered a lane that had already been closed to traffic. Investigators have not said why she entered the closure or whether she will face charges.
Boloy said investigators will need to examine the driver's actions before the crash to determine whether criminal charges are warranted. He explained that Florida law distinguishes between ordinary negligence and criminal recklessness.
For Boloy, the tragedy underscores the importance of giving roadside workers enough room to do their jobs safely.
"These Road Rangers, law enforcement officers, and emergency personnel are out there protecting our families every single day," Boloy said. "The least we can do is give them space and attention they need to return home safely to theirs."
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