Florida Parents Lose All Three Children in Fiery Turnpike Crash

A Florida couple has been left devastated after their three adult children and their companions died in a fiery crash on the Florida Turnpike on Friday night. Dalvena Green, Jakara, and Charles Milton Jr. were killed when their Chevrolet Traverse collided with a Road Ranger roadside assistance truck.

The Florida Highway Patrol reported that the incident occurred around 9:30 p.m. near mile marker 252. The Road Ranger driver had been dispatched to assist a disabled box truck parked on the outside shoulder of the northbound lane. According to a witness, the Traverse was speeding and traveling without its headlights on when it struck the right rear of the Road Ranger truck, causing both vehicles to leave the roadway and erupt in flames.

All six occupants of the Traverse, including the siblings, their significant others, and a friend, were unable to escape the vehicle as it caught fire. Authorities confirmed that all six individuals perished at the scene.

Marshall Clarke-Milton, the mother of the deceased, stated that she became concerned when she couldn't reach her children after hearing about a crash. Upon contacting officials, she was informed that her children were among the victims. "Once I gave them the names, the young lady told me, yes, we have two of them currently. So, my heart sank. Because somehow I knew it was them, but I didn't want it to be them," she told Fox 13.

The group had been en route to Universal Orlando for Halloween Horror Nights when the tragedy occurred. Clarke-Milton urged officials to conduct a thorough investigation before assigning blame, emphasizing the need to examine the vehicle's systems, including speed recorders and headlight functionality at the time of impact.

Clarke-Milton shared an emotional tribute on social media, reflecting on her last conversation with her children in a group chat, where she had expressed concern for their safety and their failure to respond. She recalled their excitement for the trip, stating, "Y’all were so excited. And that’s how I’ll forever remember you. Every time I see you in my mind all I see is love in your eyes and those beautiful smiles."

Jakara is survived by her young daughter. Her grandparents expressed gratitude for having her as a continuing connection to their lost children. "I feel like I need to see them walk through the door even though I know it's not possible. [Our granddaughter] is why we are going to get up every day and be better every day. Everything is for her," the mother said.

Charles Milton Sr. described the profound difficulty of losing all three children. "It's rough to lose one, it is rough to lose two, but three, it has been rough. So, hour at a time, even that ain't enough really, we trying, I'm trying," he told reporters.

The Florida Highway Patrol is continuing its investigation and is expected to release a report within 10 days.