FLORIDA — A 77-year-old man from Vermont was struck and killed Sunday while attempting to rescue a turtle on Interstate 95 in Indian River County, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
The incident occurred just before 4:30 p.m. in the southbound lanes of I-95, just south of Micco near Sebastian Boulevard.
Troopers said the man was walking across the interstate to help a turtle when a driver attempted to slow down to avoid hitting him.
However, the slowing vehicle was rear-ended by another car, causing it to lose control and strike the man before crashing into a fence off the highway.
The 77-year-old man died at the scene, troopers confirmed.
Traffic on I-95 southbound was brought to a standstill for hours as authorities investigated and cleared the crash.
Two lanes reopened around 8:30 p.m., approximately four hours after the incident.
