MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – A major crash shut down the Florida Turnpike in Miami Gardens Saturday night.
Florida Highway Patrol, Miami Gardens police and Miami-Dade Fire Rescue all responded to the scene near Northwest 215th Street.
According to FHP, a white Dodge was traveling north in the area of County Line Road when it made an improper lane change and collided with a white GMC SUV. which led to the Dodge losing control and hitting a gray Mercedes SUV.
Authorities said there were seven passengers in the Dodge, including a 6-year-old girl who was rushed to Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital, where she was later pronounced dead.
The GMC SUV became fully engulfed in flames after the crash, but authorities said all occupants were able to get out of the vehicle without suffering any fire-related injuries.
FHP said all the passengers from the Dodge and GMC vehicles were taken to nearby hospitals with various injuries.
Cell phone video obtained by Local 10 News showed the intense backups as cars turned around and headed in the opposite direction as they were unable to enter the northbound lanes of the Turnpike.
Additional cell phone video showed what appeared to be a separate crash in the southbound lanes, near the same area of the initial Turnpike crash.
The highway has since reopened.