Church Van Crash Kills 8, Injures 10 in Southwest Florida

Florida Highway Patrol Reported a van crash in Glades county with multiple fatalities and several injuries.

The accident happened when a large passenger van designed to carry up to sixteen people drove westbound on State Road 78. The van apparently ran a stop sign at the intersection of SR 78 and Highway 27. After running the stop sign the van barreled across four lanes of traffic on Highway 27, drove over the median, and crashed into a ditch filled with water finally coming to rest.

The van had been carrying eighteen passengers including one four year old at the time of the crash. The force of the crash resulted in eight people loosing their lives and ten other suffering injuries including the child.

The injured passengers were taken by first responders to four separate hospitals for treatment. Two of the injured were listed in critical condition.

Florida highway patrol has said an investigation is ongoing.

About the Author

Bernie Walsh

Education Bernard F. Walsh graduated from the University of South Florida before receiving his law degree from Cumberland School of Law in 1978. During law school, he was selected to serve as a research clerk and intern for a Federal Judge and the U.S. Attorney's Office. He was awarded The National Book Awards for Constitutional Law and Professional Responsibility during law school. Experience Bernard Walsh devoted the next three years to trial work for the State of Florida. This provided him with the opportunity to concentrate on his trial abilities, with numerous high profile trials concerning serious felony crimes. Since 1982, he has exclusively practiced personal injury law and helped accident victims in and beyond Sarasota and Manatee Counties in Florida. Mr. Walsh has been listed in Avvo, an attorney rating site, as Superb. LexisNexis/Martindale-Hubbell, an attorneys rating publication, has rated Mr. Walsh as very high legal ability and ethical standards. Mr. Walsh is listed in National Trial Lawyers Association as one of the Top 100 Trial Lawyers, and was inducted into Southern Trial Lawyers Association. He has also won the largest playground recoveries, one of the top three motorcycle recoveries, and the second largest daycare center recovery in the State of Florida. He is also a member of the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum. The Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum is a group of attorneys who have achieved career case successes that include multi-million dollar recoveries, settlements and/or verdicts.