Okeechobee Man Dead in 7-Vehicle Crash on Beeline Highway

A seven-vehicle crash on S.R. 710 is being blamed on a heart attack.

The Palm Beach Gardens highway accident occurred at about 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, February 12. Forty-five-year-old Danny Major was driving a tractor-trailer in the westbound lanes of Beeline Highway. He approached a line of cars that were stopped at a red light at the entrance ramp onto the Florida Turnpike. Instead of slowing or stopping, Mr. Major kept going. The truck rear-ended the 2013 Peterbilt 18-wheeler at the back of the line and caused a chain reaction crash involving a 2013 Peterbilt semi tractor-trailer, a 2010 Kenworth semi tractor-trailer, a 2000 GMC box truck, a 2001 Ford F-150, a 2005 Honda CRV, and a truck, a sport utility vehicle, and a 2012 Nissan Altima with four passengers.

Beeline Highway was closed for more than five hours as police investigated the crash. On Tuesday, February 18, the Florida Highway Patrol released the results of the Medical Examiner's report. Investigators found that Mr. Major had died of a heart attack.

Fortunately, no one else involved in the accident was injured. However, many of the vehicles sustained significant damage. The damage to Mr. Major's truck was estimated to be $40,000. The damage to the semi-truck in front of him was $3,000.

Mr. Major died at the scene. It is not known if he died before or after the crash. Mr. Major is survived by a daughter and two granddaughters. He was a Gators fan and enjoyed drag-racing. Palm Beach Gardens accident attorney David Glatthorn would like to offer his condolences to Mr. Major's family.