2 people killed in 5-vehicle crash on SR-70 in DeSoto County

On Thursday afternoon, two people were killed in a five-vehicle crash on SR-70 in DeSoto County.

According to the Florida Highway Patrol, a car was traveling east on SR-70, approaching Northwest Florida Avenue around 4:15 p.m., right behind an SUV driven by a 68-year-old man from North Palm Beach. An SUV driven by a 72-year-old man from Arcadia, a semitruck and a pickup truck were in a line traveling west on SR-70, west of Northwest Florida Avenue.

The car moved into the westbound lane to pass the SUV in front of it, colliding head-on with the westbound SUV, which was forced back into the semitruck. The crash redirected that SUV onto the north grass shoulder where it overturned onto its roof. The car came to rest facing east, straddling both lanes, and the semitruck came to rest on the north shoulder.

The pickup truck was unable to stop fast enough and rear-ended the semitruck. Debris from the original crash collided with the car.

The drivers of the SUVs were pronounced deceased at the scene. The crash remains under investigation.