JACKSONVILLE — A mother and three children were killed in a Monday afternoon traffic accident on the Buckman Bridge, I-295 in Jacksonville.
Yakel Culclager, 36, Trequis Woods-Sims, 18, Tradesia Woods-Sims, 17, and Trevieon Woods-Franklin, 6, were all killed when their disabled vehicle was struck by a tractor-trailer, causing the vehicle to burst into flames, according to reports from the Florida Highway Patrol, published in the Florida Times Union.
Reports stated the family had just moved from Virginia to Jacksonville about 6 months prior. The family was originally from Arkansas.
The incident occurred on the southbound lane of I-295. The victims’ Chevrolet Tahoe stopped in the left center lane, possibly due to mechanical failure, per reports.
A third vehicle driven by Grace Hanson, 63, a Nissan Murano, stopped behind the victim’s Tahoe. Inside the Murano, besides Hanson, was Kenneth Hanson, 65, and Jane Caldwell, 73, of Deltona.
The accident involved the tractor-trailer, driven by Judson Humphries, 56 of Wyoming, striking the Murano from behind. The Hanson’s Murano then spun off to the left leaving the Tahoe open to be struck. The tractor-trailer struck the Tahoe, crushing it by pushing it into the concrete retaining wall on the bridge. The Tahoe erupted into flames, engulfing the vehicle.
All three vehicles then came to rest in the left travel and emergency lanes of the bridge.
The driver of the truck, Humphries, was cooperating with investigators. He was not injured in the accident.
The victims in the Tahoe were pronounced dead on the scene. The victims in the Murano were taken to Baptist Medical Center South and treated for minor injuries.
Eye witnesses reported to First Coast News that the Tahoe flipped and its rear was sticking off the back of the bridge wall. Items from the Tahoe actually dropped into the river below.
The witness also stated the Tahoe smoked for a moment before literally blowing up. Other motorists attempted to help, but there was nothing they could do for the victims in the Tahoe.
The Florida Department of Transportation inspected the bridge for any structural damage before it was reopened, finding none. The Buckman Bridge has been the scene of several high-profile fatal accidents in recent years and about 1,200 crashes. Some have even involved vehicles being thrown into the river due to impact.
