DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA. (WSVN) - A violent multi-vehicle crash in a Deerfield Beach neighborhood left one person dead and sent three others to the hospital, authorities said, leading to an hours-long road closure.
According to the Broward Sheriff’s Office, deputies and Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue units responded to reports of a crash involving three vehicles along Northeast Third Avenue, off 44th Street, at approximately 1:45 p.m. on Tuesday.
“We have one vehicle on its hood. Looks like two more vehicles involved,” a dispatcher said in radio transmissions.
7Skyforce hovered above the scene where a light colored SUV flipped over after striking a fence, a white van with significant damage came to rest in the middle of the street, and a red SUV appeared to have slammed into the front of a nearby home.
Michael Botelho, the son of the driver of the white van, identified as 73-year-old Lindomar Botelho, said his father was waiting behind another car at the stop sign when a car came barreling by and struck him.
“[My father] said it was a surreal moment. He was just waiting at the stop sign, and out of nowhere, a car comes flying from the wrong way, like hits his car, hits the car in front of him,” Michael said. “So the car, I guess, started moving, he moved a little bit, and then that’s when the other car came from the wrong way.”
Investigators said one person who was in the overturned vehicle was pronounced as dead at the scene. Paramedics transported Lindomar and two other victims to an area hospital for treatment.
“Thankfully my dad is fine, just minor bruises and scratches,” Michael said.
7News spoke with Lindomar after he returned from the hospital.
Speaking in Portuguese, Lindomar said he was trapped inside the van after the air bag was deployed.
Michael said that was when some good Samaritans arrived to help pull his father out of his van.
“There’s smoke coming out of his car, and he’s, like, he’s trying to get out of the car, he can’t get out, and then five minutes he’s stuck, and then people come over, break the glass, get him out finally,” he said. “Then he was able to get into an ambulance and went straight to the hospital.”
Michael said he’s incredibly grateful to the individuals who rushed to help his father.
“My dad is very blessed to be alive right now. It’s terrible that somebody died. I’m just grateful that my dad made it and he’s fine somehow, you know, thank God that he’s fine,” he said.
The conditions of the other two injured people are not known.
Area residents told 7News that drivers speeding through the area or not following the four-way stop has been a major issue.
“I’m not surprised, but am I hurt? Yes, that’s why I feel I have to say something, because it’s just gone too far,” said area resident Leticia Mercado.
Neighbors said something needs to change.
“The four-way stop sign has always been there, but it’s just – it’s not enough,” said another resident.
Deputies shut down the roadway for hours as detectives carried out their nvestigation.
Tuesday evening, crews towed all three of the vehicles involved in the crash. The roadway was later reopened to regular traffic.
Wednesday morning, cleanup was underway.
7News has reached out BSO for an update on the surviving victims and to city officials about any previous incidents in this neighborhood and to determine whether there’s an extensive issue with speeding.
As of Wednesday morning, detectives have not released any information on the deceased victim, as they attempt to determine what led up to the deadly crash.
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