Tire Malfunction Suspected in Florida Turnpike Crash That Killed 5, Injured 7

A devastating crash on Florida’s Turnpike in Osceola County has left five people dead and seven others seriously injured, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. The single-vehicle accident occurred Sunday, April 27, 2025, near mile marker 211 in Kenansville and involved a 2004 E-350 passenger van. Authorities believe a tire malfunction caused the driver to lose control, sending the vehicle tumbling off the roadway and into a ditch.

Six passengers were airlifted to nearby hospitals, and the driver was transported by ambulance. Tragically, five individuals did not survive the crash. The aftermath led to the closure of all northbound lanes for several hours as emergency crews responded to the scene.

This incident is a heartbreaking reminder of the dangers defective or poorly maintained tires can pose, especially in large passenger vehicles. In Florida, product liability and negligence laws may provide legal recourse for victims and their families when vehicle components—such as tires—fail and lead to catastrophic injuries or death.

Liability in Accidents Involving Defective Tires

When tire failure is suspected in a crash, there may be multiple potential sources of liability:

• Tire Manufacturer: If the tire had a design or manufacturing defect.
• Vehicle Owner or Operator: If the tires were known to be worn or improperly maintained.
• Maintenance Company: If a business was responsible for inspecting or replacing the tires but failed to do so.
• Tire Retailer or Installer: If the wrong type of tire was installed, or the tires were mounted incorrectly.

Investigations often include a close analysis of the tire condition, service records, and expert accident reconstruction. In wrongful death or personal injury claims, these facts can be the foundation for a lawsuit seeking compensation for medical bills, funeral costs, pain and suffering, and loss of companionship.

Product Liability Claims for Defective Tires

When a tire fails without warning, especially on a high-occupancy vehicle like a van, the results can be catastrophic. Under Florida product liability law, manufacturers, retailers, and others in the chain of distribution can be held liable when a defective tire contributes to a serious injury or death. These types of claims may fall under one or more legal theories:

1. Design Defect

If the tire’s design was inherently dangerous — for example, prone to blowouts under normal driving conditions — the manufacturer can be held liable for every tire made using that design.

2. Manufacturing Defect

A flaw in the manufacturing process, such as improper bonding of the rubber or contamination during production, can lead to tire failure even if the design was safe.

3. Failure to Warn

Manufacturers and retailers are legally required to warn consumers of known risks. If a tire was recalled or had known safety issues and the public wasn’t properly notified, this could give rise to a failure-to-warn claim.

4. Negligent Installation or Maintenance

In some cases, the party responsible for maintaining or installing the tires — such as a mechanic or fleet company — may be liable if the tires were mounted incorrectly, not balanced, or were already worn or defective and should have been replaced.

Filing a Wrongful Death Claim After an Accident

In Florida, when someone is killed due to another party’s negligence or a defective product, their surviving family members may file a wrongful death lawsuit under Florida Statutes § 768.16 – § 768.26.

Under Florida law, the personal representative of the deceased person’s estate (usually named in the will or appointed by the court) files the lawsuit on behalf of surviving family members. Eligible survivors typically include:

• Spouse
• Children
• Parents
• Blood relatives or adoptive siblings who were financially dependent on the decedent

Wrongful death damages in Florida may include:

• Funeral and burial expenses
• Medical bills incurred before death
• Loss of the decedent’s future income and benefits
• Loss of companionship, guidance, and protection
• Mental pain and suffering for spouses, children, or parents
• Loss of support and services the decedent provided to the family

If a defective tire is found to be the root cause of the accident, the tire manufacturer, distributor, or mechanic may be held accountable through both a product liability and wrongful death claim.

Crashes involving suspected tire defects raise serious questions — not only about how and why the accident occurred, but whether it could have been prevented. For the families affected, the days and weeks that follow are often filled with grief, confusion, and a search for clarity. Understanding the role that product failures, maintenance oversights, or delayed emergency responses may have played is an important part of the healing process.

In Florida, the law provides avenues to investigate these complex incidents and hold the right parties accountable — whether it’s a manufacturer, service provider, or another entity. While no legal outcome can undo the heartbreak, uncovering the truth can help prevent similar tragedies and honor the lives lost.