According to the Miami Police Department, a Miami Car Accident this weekend was the result of illegal drag racing.  Just before 2am on Saturday morning a Toyota Scion, Chevy Impala and another vehicle were traveling at up to 100 miles per hour side by side when the driver of the Scion lost control of the vehicle and went into the oncoming traffic lane.  A Ford Expedition was traveling in the oncoming traffic lane with 4 passengers – Jose Serrano (who passed away at the scene), his son (who passed away at the hospital, Carmen Otra and another son (both in critical condition at Jackson Memorial Hospital).  As of  October 22, 2012, the 19 year old driver of the Scion that lost control is hospitalized in critical condition .  The 20 year old passenger in the Scion was ejected from the vehicle and passed away at the scene.  Detectives are searching for 2 additional vehicles that witnesses state were also speeding.

According to Fla. Sta. 316.191 – Racing on Highways, “Drag race” means the operation of two or more motor vehicles from a point side by side at accelerating speeds in a competitive attempt to outdistance each other, or the operation of one or more motor vehicles over a common selected course, from the same point to the same point, for the purpose of comparing the relative speeds or power of acceleration of such motor vehicle or motor vehicles within a certain distance or time limit.  Pursuant to the same statute, it is a crime to drag race and it is a noncriminal traffic infraction to be a spectator at drag race.

It is clear that the drag race resulted in a horrific Miami Wrongful Death.  It is almost unimaginable that an entire family may be lost because some people decided to do something so obviously dangerous on a  public road. Our thoughts are with the family of all of the people involved in this incident.  Miami Personal Injury Attorney Jeffrey S. Altman has been representing victims of Car Accidents and other Wrongful Death cases since 1998 but the loss of so many lives for the thrill of drag racing is one of the more heartbreaking cases we have seen.