Indian River County, FL (July 7, 2025) — A heartbreaking act of kindness ended in tragedy Sunday afternoon when a 77-year-old man was struck and killed while trying to rescue a turtle on Interstate 95.

According to reports, the Florida Highway Patrol responded to the scene on I-95 South, just north of Sebastian Boulevard, around 4:20 p.m. on July 6. Investigators said the elderly man crossed the southbound lanes in an attempt to save a turtle that had wandered onto the busy interstate.

A driver tried to slow down to avoid hitting the man, but another vehicle struck them from behind, causing them to lose control and hit the pedestrian before crashing into a nearby fence. The man died at the scene despite emergency responders’ efforts. Traffic cameras captured miles of southbound traffic at a standstill for more than four hours as troopers worked to clear the scene. Two lanes were reopened around 8:30 p.m.

The victim’s name has not been released pending family notification.

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PLEASE TAKE NOTICE

The information in this article is based on initial reports from local authorities and may be subject to updates as investigations continue.

• The identities of those involved in the incident have not been released pending official confirmation and notification of next of kin.
• Further details about the accident, including toxicology results and potential charges, will be shared as they become available.
• Road closures and traffic updates related to the accident scene can be found by checking with local authorities or traffic monitoring services.

The content of this news story is for informational purposes only and should not be considered legal or medical advice. All information is based on public reports at the time of publication, and details may change as investigations progress. Readers are encouraged to seek legal counsel if they or someone they know have been involved in a similar incident. The publisher assumes no liability for actions taken or not taken based on the information provided in this article. Learn more with our disclaimer.