Cocoa woman dies, 4 hurt after SUV crashes into water-filled ditch in Merritt Island NWR
A 25-year-old Cocoa woman was killed and four passengers were injured — including three children — in a Saturday single-vehicle crash in the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, the Florida Highway Patrol reported.
The fatal crash occurred just after midnight on A. Max Brewer Memorial Parkway, just east of Black Point Wildlife Drive. The latter is one of the refuge's primary sightseeing roads.
The victim was driving a 2022 Toyota 4Runner east on Brewer Parkway when she drove off the road, troopers said. The SUV struck two trees, drove into a steep water-filled ditch, and came to rest partially submerged.
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The child passengers, who were 3, 5 and 8, were transported to Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children in Orlando with minor injuries. The fourth passenger, a 28-year-old Cocoa man, also suffered minor injuries.
The crash remains under investigation. Per FHP policy, none of the crash victims was identified in the press release.
Rick Neale is the South Brevard Watchdog Reporter at FLORIDA TODAY (for more of his stories, click here.) Contact Neale at 321-242-3638 or rneale@floridatoday.com. Twitter: @RickNeale1
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This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Cocoa woman dies after SUV enters watery ditch in Merritt Island NWR
