The Eyrie

ORLANDO, FL — The parents of three adult siblings killed in a fiery crash on the Florida Turnpike say they are struggling to make sense of the loss and are not convinced the crash has been fully explained. The deadly wreck happened Friday night in the northbound lanes near mile marker 252, where a roadside assistance truck and a Chevrolet Traverse collided before both vehicles went off the road and the SUV caught fire.

The Florida Highway Patrol says all six people involved died. Among them were Charles, Jakara and Dalvena, whom their mother said were headed to Universal Orlando’s Halloween Horror Nights with their partners and a friend. Their parents, Marshall Clarke-Milton and Charles Milton Sr., described the grief as overwhelming and said they are taking life “hour at a time.”

How the Florida Turnpike crash unfolded near mile marker 252

According to the Florida Highway Patrol, a Road Ranger truck had been dispatched to help a disabled box truck that was stopped on the outside shoulder. Investigators say the assistance vehicle was moving across the roadway when it was struck by the 2023 Chevrolet Traverse.

The collision sent both vehicles off the roadway, and the Traverse then ignited with people trapped inside, FHP said. A witness told investigators the SUV may have been speeding and may not have had its headlights on. Those details have become central to the early account of what happened, even as the crash remains under review.

The crash happened around 9:30 p.m. on Friday night, making it a nighttime highway collision with multiple vehicles already on scene for roadside service. FHP has said the investigation is still open and expects to release a crash report within 10 days of the wreck.

A mother describes the moment she learned her children were missing

Marshall Clarke-Milton said she first sensed something was wrong when she could not reach her children. After hearing about the crash, she contacted officials and began asking whether any of her family members were involved.

She told FOX 35 that once she gave police the names, she was told that two of them were already in the system. That was the moment, she said, when she felt her fears confirmed. Clarke-Milton said she did not want it to be true, but she knew in her heart that it might be her children.

She said the loss of three children, along with their significant others and a friend, has left the family devastated. The couple said their granddaughter is giving them a reason to keep going and rebuild their lives after the crash.

Parents challenge early claims about speed and headlights

The parents are questioning the early narrative that the Florida Highway Patrol has shared about the role of the SUV. Clarke-Milton said investigators should examine the vehicle’s data systems before drawing conclusions about speed or whether the headlights were on before impact.

She pointed to the need to check what information the vehicle recorded, including the speed at the time of the crash and whether the lights were functioning before the collision. In her view, those facts matter before anyone says the driver of the SUV caused the wreck.

The family’s skepticism reflects the tension that can follow a fatal crash when the first public account is still developing. While FHP has identified the SUV as part of the collision sequence, it has also said the case remains open and that the investigation is continuing.

National Transportation Safety Board opens its own review

The National Transportation Safety Board confirmed it is opening an investigation into the deadly crash. The agency said it will look at the training and performance of the roadside assistance vehicle driver, the actions of the SUV driver, including speed, and whether the SUV occupants were using restraints.

The NTSB said it routinely examines highway crashes with broader safety implications and uses those reviews to develop recommendations aimed at preventing similar deaths. That means the Florida Turnpike wreck will be examined not only as a local tragedy, but also as a possible case study in roadside safety and highway response.

For the grieving parents, though, the federal review does not lessen the immediate pain. Charles Milton Sr. said losing one child is hard, losing two is harder, and losing three has been crushing. The family says they are trying to keep going while waiting for more answers from investigators.

What investigators are still expected to determine

Several key questions remain unanswered. Officials have not yet said how fast the SUV was traveling, whether the headlights were on, or what exact sequence of events led to the fire after the vehicles left the roadway. Those details are expected to be addressed in the crash report and any follow-up reviews.

The Road Ranger vehicle and the disabled box truck also remain part of the inquiry. Because the crash involved roadside assistance operations on an active highway, investigators are likely to focus on the spacing, positioning and movement of the vehicles before the impact.

For now, the case remains open at the state level, with the NTSB adding a second layer of scrutiny. The family of the victims says it wants that process to be thorough before blame is fixed on anyone involved.