NORTHWEST BROWARD, Fla. (WSVN) – Nine people, including seven children, were hurt after a crash involving a truck and a sedan on U.S. Route 27; an 11-year-old boy later died from his injuries.
A black Nissan sedan appeared to have been rear-ended by the tractor-trailer near mile marker 47, Tuesday afternoon.
Good Samaritans were the first to respond to the scene.
It happened near the Palm Beach County line and shut down U.S. 27 in both directions for nearly an hour.
A 7-year-old was seen being administered CPR by rescuers on the scene.
One Broward Sheriff Air Rescue helicopter responded to the scene just before 3 p.m.
Two Trauma Hawk helicopters from Palm Beach County Fire Rescue also arrived.
A total of five patients were flown to hospitals. One child was flown to Broward Health Medical Center as a trauma alert.
Four children were also transported, two children were in each Trauma Hawk.
One helicopter transported the children to Broward General and the other to Delray Medical Center.
One other patient was transported by ground.
Florida Highway Patrol officials said the 31-year-old driver, 31-year-old passenger, an 8-year-old boy and a 5-year-old girl are in serious condition.
A 14-year-old girl, two 7-year-old boys and a 3-year-old boy suffered minor injuries.
Most of the rescue activity was focused on the sedan with its rear passenger section completely torn open. The tractor-trailer traveled so far down the road it could not be photographed in the same frame as the sedan by 7SkyForce.
Crews from the Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue arrived by ground, as well as FHP troopers.
All patients came from the same vehicle.
The driver of the tractor-trailer remained on the scene.
Ronald Walker Sr. identified the 11-year-old victim as his son, Ronald Walker Jr.
He said his wife, Paula Harper, was in the vehicle with her four children, her friend and her three children.
As of Wednesday afternoon, four victims remain hospitalized at Broward Health Medical Center while four others are at hospitals in Palm Beach County.
Harper has set up a GoFundMe to help pay for her son’s funeral.
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