Man killed, woman hurt in wrong-way, head-on crash on I-4 ramp in Orange County

A 21-year-old Orlando man was killed and a woman was injured early Tuesday in a wrong-way, head-on crash on the westbound I-4 exit ramp to Sand Lake Road, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

The fatal two-vehicle wreck happened around 5:35 a.m. in Orange County.

According to the FHP, a 2016 Nissan Sentra started traveling east on the westbound ramp from Sand Lake Road when a trooper assisting with construction detail observed the wrong-way entry and started following the car, activating lights and sirens in an effort to stop the Nissan.

The Nissan, however, collided head on with a 2011 Jeep Wrangler that was traveling west on the ramp, according to an FHP crash report.

The driver of the Sentra was pronounced dead at the scene, the FHP said.

The other driver, a 53-year-old Orlando woman, was taken to Orlando Regional Medical Center with serious but non-life-threatening injuries, according to troopers.

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The ramp was closed for several hours before it was reopened.

The Florida Department of Transportation issued a statement about the fatal crash later in the day.

“FDOT is deeply saddened to hear of this tragic incident and sends our heartfelt condolences to the family and loved ones during such a difficult time,” the statement said. Safety is FDOT’s top priority. As with any new traffic pattern on projects, the department closely monitors traffic and drivers’ reactions to the new changes to understand whether any changes or tweaks to conditions are necessary.”

FDOT said safety measures, including having law enforcement officers present at projects, are included during major road projects.

“While these safety measures are designed to help further deter drivers from driving the wrong way, it cannot prevent these types of incidents from occurring. The system is ultimately dependent on driver behavior,” FDOT said.

The agency urged drivers to be alert, especially when traveling in an unfamiliar area, and provided tips to motorists about wrong-way drivers.

What should a motorist do if they see an alert about a wrong-way driver?

• Reduce your speed.
• Move over to the right and proceed with extreme caution.
• If a wrong-way driver is approaching, immediately pull off the roadway and call 911 or *FHP.

What should a driver do if they approach a WRONG WAY sign or find themselves driving in the wrong direction (to help prevent a crash)?

• Stop immediately.
• Pull over to the side of the road.
• Turn around when it is safe to do so.

Louis Cohen, who lives in the Orlando area, said he’d like more to be done to prevent crashes.

“Do you ever feel unsafe driving around here?” News 6 reporter Emily McLeod asked Cohen.

“Yes, I do, actually,” he said. “People speed, (there are) a lot of out-of-towners who don’t really know the rules and the driving patterns around here. I think that Orlando should get some, maybe some police officers or something, you know, to direct traffic at peak times because the traffic here is absolutely horrendous.”

The exact reason for the driver going the wrong way on the ramp is under investigation.

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