An 87-year-old man from Vermont has reportedly died while trying to save a turtle crossing the highway. His good deed caused a car crash involving multiple vehicles.
According to a report by People, the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) said Frank J. Quinn, 87, was driving on I-95 through River County on Sunday at around 4:30 PM. FHP says Quinn spotted a turtle as it tried to cross the highway. He parked his vehicle on the right shoulder and started walking across the southbound lanes.
The outlet explains that a 2020 Mazda CX-9 driver slowed down to avoid hitting the man as he walked across the road. However, a 2020 Dodge 3500 pickup driver in the middle lane couldn’t react in time and collided with the Mazda. The FHP reportedly said the Mazda “ran off the road to the right, entered a grass shoulder, collided with a fence, and came to final rest on the west side of the fence facing northeast.” The Dodge struck Quinn, throwing him onto the left shoulder.
The Vermont Man Died At The Scene
People reports Quinn died from his injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene. Authorities say the occupants of the Mazda and Dodge were not injured. A 53-year-old man drove the Dodge, while the Mazda was driven by a 44-year-old woman with a passenger. It’s unclear what happened to the turtle.
The incident caused massive delays on the highway as multiple lanes were closed. WPTV News interviewed the Smith family, who explained they were stuck for so long that they feared their Tesla would run out of batteries. “All this was, was simply a kind act that somebody paid the ultimate price for,” they said. A Cybertruck driver reportedly helped them with their battery issues.
According to the Daily Express, Florida has a thriving turtle population of 25 species. The outlet explains that it’s not uncommon for them to try to cross roads, nor is this the first time they have been blamed for causing accidents. Turtles migrate, and their journeys often involve them crossing roads around their habitats. The Daily Express also cites a study by the University of Massachusetts. The study claims that many rural roads crossed by turtles have seen a massive increase in vehicle traffic.