Road Ranger Killed on Northbound I Ninety Five Near Lantana Road After Car Enters Closure and Strikes Him Before Hitting Cruiser
PALM BEACH COUNTY, FL — A Road Ranger was killed early Sunday on northbound I-95 near Lantana Road after a car entered a lane closure and struck him before crashing into a marked Florida Highway Patrol cruiser, authorities said.
The worker was a 23-year-old West Palm Beach man. Florida Highway Patrol said he died at the scene and his family has been notified, though his name has not been released.
The crash happened around 2:07 a.m. on Oct. 25 while troopers were handling an earlier wreck just south of Lantana Road. Officials said the scene had been set up with a marked vehicle and emergency lighting to close the left lanes.
How the crash happened in the lane closure
According to Florida Highway Patrol, a fully marked Dodge Charger was positioned across the two leftmost northbound lanes with its emergency lights activated. The closure was in place as troopers investigated the earlier crash.
Investigators said an 18-year-old Lake Worth woman driving a 2019 Mercedes sedan entered the closed area and hit the Road Ranger. After the impact, the Mercedes rotated and struck the FHP cruiser.
The driver was taken to JFK South for treatment of injuries that troopers described as non-incapacitating. FHP has not said why she entered the closure or whether she will face charges.
Response from police and emergency crews at the scene
Boynton Beach Police confirmed that an on-duty officer was helping with traffic control when the crash happened. The department said the officer was not involved in the collision and was not hurt.
Video obtained by CBS12 News showed a light-colored car with major front-end damage and a large emergency response at the scene. Palm Beach County Fire Rescue, Lantana Police, Boynton Beach Police and Florida Highway Patrol all responded.
Northbound lanes were closed for several hours after the crash. FHP said the outside northbound lane reopened at 8:34 a.m., as crews worked to clear the area and continue the investigation.
Road Rangers and the risks of working roadside
Road Rangers are civilian workers who help with roadside assistance and traffic incidents alongside law enforcement. They are not state troopers, but they often work directly in traffic lanes and around disabled vehicles, crashes and lane closures.
The death drew sharp comments from people in the towing and roadside assistance industry, who say workers are increasingly exposed to danger when drivers are not paying attention. Stephanie Beck, president of Beck’s Towing in Boynton Beach, said she no longer sends tow truck drivers onto I-95 because of safety concerns.
Beck said she believes drivers often fail to notice emergency scenes, especially when they are distracted or rushing through traffic.
Florida's Move Over law and why officials say it matters
Florida’s Move Over law requires drivers to move over a lane when approaching a stopped vehicle displaying flashing or hazard lights, if it can be done safely. The rule applies to emergency responders, law enforcement officers, construction crews and motorists with disabled vehicles.
If changing lanes is not possible, drivers are supposed to slow down and proceed with caution. Supporters of the law say it exists to protect workers and responders who are exposed while helping others on the roadway.
Andrew Boloy, a trial attorney with The Eberst Law Firm, said the law is intended to keep people who work roadside from being struck while doing their jobs. He said the tragedy shows why drivers must give emergency scenes more room.
What investigators are still trying to determine
Florida Highway Patrol said its investigation remains ongoing. Investigators have not said what led the young driver into the closed lane or whether any criminal case will follow.
Boloy said authorities will need to examine the driver’s actions before the crash to decide whether charges are warranted. He said Florida law distinguishes between ordinary negligence and criminal recklessness, which can matter in fatal crash investigations.
For those who work along busy roads, the death has become another reminder of how quickly a routine traffic job can turn deadly. As Beck put it, roadside workers and emergency personnel are out there every day trying to protect everyone else.