Miami Injury Lawyer Blog
Five individuals ranging in age from fourteen to twenty-two were killed early Saturday morning after the most horrific crash Palm Beach County has seen in years. A 1994 Lexus driven by twenty-two-year-old Jason A. Mahlung was driving on Blue Heron Boulevard, less than a mile from the home of one of the teenage girls in the vehicle, seventeen-year-old Shonteria T. Grimsley, when a 2008 Mercedes driven by Jabari S. Kemp, twenty-one of Florida City, crashed into the Lexus around 12:30 a.m. Saturday. Kemp was exiting Interstate 95 north, driving at an excessive speed, when he failed to stop at a red light. He slammed right into the passenger’s side of Mahlung’s vehicle, killing all five occupants.
Among the dead were Grimsley and two other girls, Christina Oliver Joseph, seventeen, and a fourteen-year-old girl, Makita Campbell. All three of the girls were from Riviera Beach. None of the girls were wearing seatbelts and were thrown from the vehicle as it tumbled after impact with the Mercedes. It was just chance that the girls were even in Mahlung’s vehicle. Mahlung and his passenger that sat in the front seat, Orane Cummings, twenty-two of Riviera Beach, were visiting Mahlung’s girlfriend, who they invited to come along for the ride, but she chose to stay behind. Another friend was supposed to join the young men, but he could not make it. This is when Mahlung picked up Joseph, Campbell, and Grimsley, who were headed to Grimsley’s house for a sleepover that night. As Mahlung drove down Blue Heron Boulevard, the Mercedes came down the exit ramp off Interstate 95 and caused the “very violent collision with a lot of energy in it.”
Mahlung was transported to St. Mary’s Medical Center in West Palm Beach where he was pronounced dead. Cummings, the front seat passenger, was the only individual in the car wearing a seat belt, but he too was pronounced dead at the hospital. The section of Blue Heron Boulevard where the crash occurred was shut down for more than three hours Sunday while the Florida Highway Patrol collected evidence to understand the details and timing of the crash. FHP spokesman Tim Frith stated that once the evidence was collected and the results of toxicology reports were released, criminal charges may be filed.
Families, friends promise to ‘never forget’ victims of ‘violent’ Riviera Beach crash, www.palmbeachpost.com April 14, 2013
Excessive speed mixed with disobeying traffic signals is a deadly combination. It is still unclear whether any other factors lead to this devastating crash that effected the lives of so many. After accidents like this, friends and families are faced with a great deal of emotions and often substantial medical bills. The Palm Beach insurance litigation attorneys at the Friedland | Carmona understand how devastating these automobile accidents can be for everyone involved. Jonathan Friedland and Michael Carmona are experienced trial attorneys who can help you and your family pick up the pieces after losing a loved one. If you have lost a loved one in a violent automobile collision, call a wrongful death attorney at (305) 661-2008 today for your free consultation.
The Miami personal injury attorneys at the Friedland | Carmona handle all types of car accident cases throughout the state of Florida, including Boca Raton, Homestead, North Miami, South Miami, Miami Beach, Coral Gables, Pembroke Pines, Hialeah, Kendall, Aventura, Fort Lauderdale, and Palm Beach. The Friedland | Carmona handles all types of personal injury cases, including wrongful death, defective products, medical malpractice, slip and falls, and construction site injuries. Call the Miami personal injury attorneys today and let our family take care of your family!