Yoel Menendez, 44, Ricoberto Llanes, 43, and Alain Navarro, 46, dead after trying to assist woman after crash involving bear in Miami, Florida

Modified Date: 
Mon, 12/08/2014 - 3:54pm
Accident Date: 
Sunday, December 7, 2014

3 dead, 8 injured after vehicle hits, kills bear

"There are black bears throughout Florida and this is in the Everglades, so there absolutely are black bears in that area," Bitner said.

Victims of crash involving black bear identified

"They were good Samaritans," said tribe spokesman Gary Bitner. "They were people obviously intent on being helpful, doing the right thing, and then they lose their lives. It's just sad."

3 dead in crash after vehicle strikes, kills bear

Bitner said that location is on the approximately 50,000-acre Big Cypress Seminole Reservation, one of several tribal reservations scattered about Florida. He said it was also in an area north of the Everglades' Alligator Alley.

Caroline Billie was driving on Snake Road when she saw a bear in the road and couldn't stop in time to prevent hitting it. Her vehicle was seriously damaged and no longer driveable, and the bear was killed. Three vehicles that were traveling together on the road saw that she needed help and pulled over. Eight people got out of the vehicles. At the same time, Gary McInturff was driving in the opposite direction and did not see the parked vehicles. He hit one and sideswiped anoter, sending it into the people standing on the shoulder. The road was reportedly very dark at the time. Billie and McInturff were not hurt in the incident. Three people were killed, identified as Yoel Menendez, 44; Ricoberto Llanes, 43; and Alain Navarro, 46. Jose Vega, Mario Cecilio, and a juvenile passenger in McInturff's vehicle were also admitted to medical centers with non-life threatening injuries.

Type: Car Accident
People Involved: 
Yoel Menendez
Ricoberto Llanes
Alain Navarro
Jose Vega
Mario Cecilio
Caroline Billie
Gary McInturff
Roadway: 
Snake Road
City: 
Miami, FL

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