Deadly Collision Along Florida’s Turnpike Claims Three Lives
FORT PIERCE, FL, (August 12, 2025) - Authorities have launched an investigation into a triple-fatal crash that claimed the lives of three South Florida residents on Aug. 12.
A tractor-trailer’s illegal U-turn on Florida’s Turnpike led to a crash that killed Herby Dufresne and two passengers, resulting in vehicular homicide charges for the truck driver.
Herby Dufresne, 30, of Florida City, died when the Chrysler minivan he was driving collided with a tractor-trailer on Florida’s Turnpike near Fort Pierce. The crash occurred after the tractor-trailer driver attempted an illegal U-turn in an area marked for “official use only,” crossing directly in front of Dufresne’s minivan.
The minivan struck the truck and became lodged beneath the trailer. Two passengers—a 54-year-old Miami resident and a 37-year-old Pompano Beach resident—died at the scene. Dufresne was airlifted to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
The 28-year-old truck driver and his passenger were unharmed. The driver declined a translated interview with Florida Highway Patrol investigators and requested an attorney.
According to the trucking company’s California manager, the driver returned to California the day after the crash. Authorities issued a warrant on Aug. 15, and he was arrested in California on three counts of vehicular homicide and three counts of manslaughter.
Florida Lt. Gov. Jay Collins personally traveled to California to oversee the driver’s extradition. A Florida judge ordered him held without bond over the weekend.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement revealed the driver had lived in the U.S. illegally since 2018 after crossing from Mexico and obtained commercial driver’s licenses in Washington in 2023 and California in 2024.
CRASH INVESTIGATION
According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's data, Florida recorded 368 fatal crashes involving large trucks and buses in 2022, representing approximately 6% of the nation's total. The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles reported that tractor-trailers were involved in over 12,000 crashes statewide in 2023, resulting in 351 fatalities and more than 3,500 injuries.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration notes that Florida consistently ranks among the top five states for commercial vehicle crashes, with the Florida's Turnpike and I-95 corridor experiencing the highest concentration of these incidents.
Candice Bond, an experienced tractor-trailer accident attorney, said that in such cases, it is imperative to have an independent investigation conducted promptly to protect the rights of a victim.
"Tractor-trailer crashes are often complex, and many factors can play a role in these types of accidents," said Bond, who is a Managing Partner of Bond Legal.
"A skilled attorney can protect victims from trucking companies, which often send their own investigators to crash sites and possess a variety of resources they can utilize to defend a negligent truck driver.
"Your lawyer can advocate for you by hiring expert witnesses, conducting driver background checks, locating witnesses to the crash, and reviewing applicable insurance coverage, while carefully guiding a victim through the legal process."
WRONGFUL DEATH CLAIM
The family of Herby Dufresne may be entitled to pursue compensation for damages, including funeral and related expenses, loss of income and companionship, and other hardships.
“The death of a loved one in an accident is both tragic and devastating for surviving family members. The grief, shock, and anger can be overwhelming,” said Candice Bond, Managing Partner at Bond Legal.
She added, “Beyond the emotional toll, the loss of a family member can have severe financial consequences. Funeral expenses and lost income can create additional hardships during an already devastating time.”
Candice Bond, national legal analyst for Newsline, has experience in commercial trucking accident cases. Contact her for a free consultation if you need legal support.
(Candice Bond, our national legal analyst, is a Managing Partner at Bond Legal. Newsline can and does use quotes from prior interviews with our analysts for our news articles. If you would like to contact Bond Legal to help you, please call 866-985-6515 or use the submission box found on this page. Legal analysts quoted may or may not be licensed in your state).