Ezekiel Urrutia – The young man who lost his life in a wrong-way crash on Florida’s Turnpike in Broward County has been identified by his family as Ezekiel Urrutia, a 23-year-old paramedic who was awaiting employment with the Miami Fire Rescue Department. The tragic accident occurred in the northbound lanes of the Turnpike, just after Red Road, and was reported around 1:45 a.m.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, the crash involved a 2010 grey Honda Element SUV driven by a 55-year-old woman who was traveling the wrong way on the inside lane of the Turnpike. Urrutia, driving a 2016 Honda Civic, was unable to avoid a collision, and the two vehicles collided head-on.
After the impact, the Honda Element struck a concrete barrier wall and overturned, while Urrutia’s Civic spun around from the force of the collision. Tragically, Urrutia, who was a resident of Cutler Bay, did not survive the crash. The woman, identified as a resident of Hialeah, sustained serious injuries and was described as having “incapacitating injuries” by officials.
Urrutia’s mother shared that her son was a dedicated paramedic, eagerly waiting to be hired as a firefighter for the City of Miami. His sudden death has left his family and community in mourning, remembering him for his commitment to serving others as a first responder.