Story developing as of June 22, 2026. Last updated: June 22, 2026, 9:00 a.m. ET. Facts attributed to NBC6 South Florida (June 15, 2026) and the Florida Highway Patrol. This article is general information, not legal advice. Charges are pending; all related allegations are unproven.
Two Florida Highway Patrol troopers were seriously hurt and a stretch of Florida’s Turnpike was shut down after a crash in Miami-Dade on Monday, June 15, 2026, around 10:40 a.m. in the northbound lanes near NW 106th Street, according to NBC6 South Florida. Both troopers were expected to survive. FHP Chief Matthew Williams called it a “situation that never should have happened” and said charges are pending. Below is general, educational information on Florida’s Move Over law and the rights of people hurt in roadside crashes. Miami Lawyer for Accidents involving Police Vehicles
Quick Answer
Florida’s Move Over law requires drivers approaching a stopped emergency vehicle, tow truck, utility vehicle, or other vehicle displaying flashing lights to move over a lane when safe, or — if they can’t — to slow to a speed below the posted limit and proceed with caution. The law exists because roadside and shoulder crashes are especially dangerous for people standing outside their vehicles. When someone is seriously injured by a driver who was allegedly driving unlawfully (for example, on a suspended license) or who is underinsured, uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage and a serious-injury claim may become important. A criminal charge against a driver is separate from any civil claim an injured person may bring. This is general information, not legal advice. (Facts attributed to NBC6 South Florida / FHP.)
What FHP Says Happened
According to NBC6 South Florida and the Florida Highway Patrol, a silver FHP truck towing a trailer was being followed by a marked FHP Charger when the trailer got a flat tire and became disabled. Both vehicles pulled onto the emergency shoulder of the northbound Turnpike near NW 106th Street.
FHP said a black Cadillac SUV then veered off the roadway and crashed into the Charger, which struck a trooper who was standing outside near the trailer.
The two troopers were identified by FHP, as reported by NBC6, as:
- Sgt. Alexis Otano, 54, who was driving the truck and standing near the trailer.
- Trooper Amaury Quinones, 32, who was inside the car.
Both suffered serious injuries but were expected to survive, according to the report. They were taken as trauma alerts, and a Fire Rescue helicopter airlifted at least one trooper.
FHP Chief Matthew Williams said the 28-year-old Cadillac driver was hospitalized with minor injuries, had a suspended license, and should not have been driving. He said charges are pending and noted that drivers are required to move over for emergency vehicles under Florida law. He called it “a situation that never should have happened.”
These case details, including the suspended-license and charges-pending statements, are attributed to FHP and Chief Williams as reported by NBC6 South Florida. Charges are pending and allegations are unproven. The Perazzo Law Firm is not involved in this matter and makes no determination of fault.
Florida’s “Move Over” Law, Generally
Florida’s Move Over law is designed to protect people who are stopped along the road — law enforcement, first responders, tow operators, utility and sanitation crews, and disabled motorists displaying warning signals.
In general terms, when approaching such a stopped vehicle, a driver is expected to:
- Move over one lane away from the stopped vehicle when it is safe to do so on a road with two or more lanes in the same direction; or
- If moving over is not possible or safe, slow down to a speed below the posted limit and be prepared to stop.
The goal is straightforward: a vehicle that leaves its travel lane or fails to slow can strike people standing on or near the shoulder, where there is little room and no protection. Roadside and shoulder crashes are among the more dangerous categories of collision precisely because a person outside the vehicle has nowhere to go.
This is a general description of the law’s purpose and is not a substitute for the statute or for legal advice about a specific situation.
Why Roadside and Shoulder Crashes Are So Dangerous
When a crash happens on the emergency shoulder, the people most at risk are often those standing outside their vehicles — changing a tire, inspecting damage, or doing their jobs. A vehicle that veers off the roadway carries the same force whether it strikes another car or a person on foot. There is no crumple zone for someone standing on the pavement.
That is part of why Florida treats stopped emergency and service vehicles as a special hazard zone, and why the Move Over law asks every passing driver to give them room.
When the At-Fault Driver Was Allegedly Driving Unlawfully or Is Underinsured
In Florida, people who are seriously injured in a crash sometimes find that the at-fault driver was, as alleged here, driving on a suspended license, or that the driver carried little or no insurance. Those facts can affect how an injured person seeks compensation.
A few general concepts that often come up:
Florida’s no-fault system and “serious injury”
Florida is a no-fault state, meaning a driver’s own Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage typically pays first for certain medical bills and lost wages, regardless of who caused the crash. However, when injuries meet Florida’s legal threshold for a serious injury — such as permanent injury, significant scarring or disfigurement, or other qualifying harm — an injured person may be able to step outside the no-fault system and pursue a claim against an at-fault driver for additional damages, including pain and suffering.
Whether a particular injury qualifies is a fact-specific legal question.
Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist (UM/UIM) coverage
When an at-fault driver has no insurance or not enough to cover serious harm, an injured person’s own UM/UIM coverage — if they carry it — may be a key source of compensation. UM/UIM is optional in Florida but is often the most important coverage available when the responsible driver cannot cover the loss. Reviewing the available policies is usually an early step in a serious-injury matter.
Criminal Charges vs. a Civil Claim
It is common to confuse the two, so here is the general distinction:
- A criminal case is brought by the state. Its goal is to determine whether a law was broken and, if so, to impose penalties such as fines or jail. Chief Williams said charges are pending; that is a criminal-justice process, and the driver is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
- A civil claim is brought by an injured person. Its goal is compensation for losses such as medical bills, lost income, and pain and suffering. A civil claim has a lower standard of proof than a criminal case and can proceed independently of whether criminal charges are filed or how they resolve.
In other words, a criminal charge does not, by itself, compensate an injured person. The two processes can run in parallel and serve different purposes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Florida’s Move Over law?
Generally, it requires drivers approaching a stopped emergency vehicle, tow truck, utility vehicle, or other vehicle with flashing or warning lights to move over a lane when it is safe, or — if they cannot — to slow to below the posted speed limit and proceed with caution. It is meant to protect people stopped along the roadway. This is a general description, not legal advice.
What if the at-fault driver had a suspended license or no insurance?
A driver allegedly driving on a suspended license may still be the responsible party in a civil claim, and a criminal charge may also follow — but those are separate processes. If the at-fault driver is uninsured or underinsured, an injured person’s own UM/UIM coverage, if they carry it, may become an important source of compensation. Available policies are typically reviewed early in a serious-injury matter.
Does a criminal charge against the driver compensate the injured person?
Not by itself. A criminal case is brought by the state to determine guilt and impose penalties. Compensation for an injured person’s medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering is generally pursued through a separate civil claim, which has its own standard of proof and timeline.
Is Florida no-fault, and how does a “serious injury” change things?
Yes. Florida’s no-fault system means a person’s own PIP coverage typically pays first for certain medical bills and lost wages. When injuries meet Florida’s legal threshold for a serious or permanent injury, an injured person may be able to step outside no-fault and pursue an at-fault driver for additional damages. Whether an injury qualifies is a fact-specific legal question.
How long do I have to file a claim in Florida?
Florida sets deadlines, called statutes of limitations, for filing injury claims, and these were shortened by recent Florida law. The deadline depends on the type of claim and the facts, and missing it can bar a claim entirely. Because deadlines and exceptions vary, anyone with questions about a specific situation should get individualized guidance promptly. This is general information, not legal advice.
A Note on Safety
This crash is a reminder of why the Move Over law exists. When you see flashing lights ahead — a patrol car, a tow truck, a disabled vehicle, a utility crew — move over a lane if you safely can, or slow down well below the limit. The few seconds it takes can protect the people standing just feet from fast-moving traffic.
If you or a loved one was seriously hurt in a roadside or shoulder crash, you may have questions about your rights and options. our practice areas You can also contact us for general information.
Source: NBC6 South Florida, reporting by Hatzel Vela, Brian Hamacher, and Kim Wynne, June 15, 2026.
Disclaimer: This article is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Reading it or contacting The Perazzo Law Firm does not create an attorney-client relationship. The facts of the June 15, 2026 crash are attributed to NBC6 South Florida and the Florida Highway Patrol; charges are pending and all allegations are unproven, and nothing here is a determination of fault. Every case is different, and outcomes depend on specific facts and law. This material may be considered attorney advertising. Story developing as of June 22, 2026.