2 killed, 3 seriously injured in Florida Turnpike crash

Rebekah Pollard, 25, and Esibel Varona, 5, ejected, killed

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – Two people were killed and three people were seriously injured Tuesday morning in a two-car crash on the Florida Turnpike in Orange County.

Police said a 2005 Chevy SUV was traveling north on the turnpike and a tow truck-type vehicle that was hauling three cars and a trailer was also traveling north.

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The tire treads separated on the SUV's left rear tire and the driver lost control, police said. The SUV hit the guardrail and two people were ejected and landed in the roadway. The driver of the truck was unable to stop and ran over the two victims.

Both victims, 25-year-old Rebekah Pollard and 5-year-old Esibel Varona, were killed.

Police aren't sure if any other people from the SUV were ejected.

The driver of the SUV, Nicole Varona, 26, and two of her passengers, Leonel Cobo, 26, and Emilia Varona, 12, all from Miami, were seriously injured. Nicole Varona and Cobo were taken to Orlando Regional Medical Center and Emilia Varona was taken to Arnold Palmer.

Three-year-old Kaley Pollard was also in the SUV, but was not injured in the crash.

Yamir Hernandez Ortega, 43, who was driving the truck, was uninjured.

The crash is still under investigation.


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