Three dead after colliding with semi truck attempting an illegal u-turn

Three people are dead after colliding with a semi truck attempting an illegal u-turn in Florida on Tuesday. 

The accident happened on the afternoon of August 12th in Fort Pierce, Florida on the Florida Turnpike. 

According to TC Palm News, the semi truck was traveling in the right lane of the northbound Turnpike when it attempted an illegal u-turn at an “Official Use Only” turn. The attempt caused the semi truck to cross into the path of an oncoming Chrysler Town & County traveling north in the left lane, which collided with the truck. 

The force of the impact wedged the van beneath the semi truck and killed two passengers inside of the vehicle at the scene. The driver of the van was transported to a hospital where he later died of his injuries. 

Both men inside of the semi truck, each in their twenties, were not hurt in the accident. As of Wednesday afternoon, investigators had not yet been able to contact the family members of the people killed in the crash. 

The accident is reportedly being investigated as a traffic homicide as police work to determine why the truck driver was attempting an illegal u-turn. No further information has been released.