MIRAMAR, Fla. – Fatal Crash Shuts Down Florida’s Turnpike Near Red Road Exit
A devastating collision on Florida’s Turnpike near the Red Road exit in Miramar early Thursday morning resulted in the death of a 23-year-old man and left a woman injured.
Sky 10 captured the aftermath just after 6 a.m., showing one of the vehicles involved overturned on its roof. The scene was chaotic, with emergency responders working tirelessly to assist those involved.
Victim Identified as Ezekiel ‘Zeke’ Uruttia
The victim, identified as Ezekiel ‘Zeke’ Uruttia, was a dedicated paramedic and former wrestler from Palmetto High School. Family members shared heartfelt memories of Uruttia, who they described as a hero who lived to save lives. His mother, Tiffany Uruttia, expressed the immense loss felt by their family, emphasizing his dedication to helping others.
Uruttia had aspirations to further his career with the Miami-Dade County Fire Department after working for the Miami-Dade ambulance company.
Details of the Crash
According to Miramar Fire Rescue officials, the crash occurred around 1:50 a.m. on Florida’s Turnpike, just east of Red Road. First responders extricated the female driver from one of the vehicles and transported her to Memorial Regional Hospital with multiple injuries. She is currently listed in stable condition.
The Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) later confirmed that the crash involved a 2010 grey Honda Element SUV driven by a 55-year-old woman from Hialeah and a 2016 grey Honda Civic sedan driven by 23-year-old Uruttia from Cutler Bay.
FHP reports state that the Hialeah woman was driving the wrong way on the northbound lanes of the Turnpike when her SUV collided head-on with Uruttia’s sedan. The impact was fatal for Uruttia, who was pronounced dead at the scene.
After the crash, the woman’s SUV overturned, coming to a rest facing east on the inside paved shoulder of eastbound Florida’s Turnpike. Uruttia’s sedan, meanwhile, came to a stop facing west on the outside lane and merge lane of the highway.
Investigation Ongoing
Authorities have not yet released the names of the individuals involved, and the investigation is ongoing. The northbound lanes of the Turnpike have since reopened following the closure for the accident response.
This tragic incident highlights the dangers of wrong-way driving and underscores the importance of heightened vigilance on the roads.
