A man was killed and a 2-year-old child was inside his vehicle when it was struck on Interstate 75 in Miramar during Thursday evening’s rush hour, authorities said.
The crash happened around 5:30 p.m. in the northbound lanes of I-75, just north of Miramar Parkway.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, the driver was outside his vehicle changing a tire on the right shoulder when he was struck by another vehicle.
Another vehicle then crashed into the stopped car.
The child was not seriously injured and is now with their mother, officials said. The name of the person who was killed has not been released.
The crash caused major traffic delays and shut down several lanes during the evening commute.
The crash is highlighting the importance of Florida’s Move Over Law, which requires drivers approaching a stopped vehicle on the side of the road to move over when possible.
If drivers cannot safely move over, they must slow down to at least 20 mph below the posted speed limit.
Joe Sanchez, a retired Florida Highway Patrol agent who spent more than three decades with the agency, said drivers should avoid changing a tire on the side of a busy highway whenever possible.
“If you can, get the vehicle out of the way, get it as far away from danger as you can or drive it off the highway and find a safe area for you to change the tire,” Sanchez said.
Sanchez said drivers can also call for roadside assistance rather than attempting to change a tire in a dangerous location.
According to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, there have been 30 Move Over-related crashes in Miami-Dade and Broward counties this year.
Sanchez said taking a few extra seconds to move over or find a safer location can save lives.
“That law has saved a lot of lives in the state of Florida,” he said.
The crash remains under investigation.