You may recall the horrific car accident on I-95 in Hollywood, Florida, during November of last year. The accident which shut down I-95 involved a rear-end collision between two SUVs, both of which caught fire. One of the vehicle's occupants was trapped inside and burned to death.
Jacob P. Payne, the driver of the 2000 Cadillac Escalade, which appears to be at least partially responsible, had a long history of traffic infractions. From 2006 to the present, Payne of Hallandale Beach, Florida, was convicted of careless driving, reckless driving and even had his license suspended several times, according to the Florida Department of Motor Vehicles. That accident on Interstate 95 near the Hollywood-Hallandale city line resulted in a death, multiple injuries, and closed down I-95.
Payne, according to FHP investigators, was the driver of the 2000 Cadillac Escalade that appears to have started the crash. The Escalade initially struck the back of a 2005 Ford Taurus which was stopped in traffic. The Escalade then kept going and turned into the emergency lane where it slammed into the rear of the 1998 Ford Expedition which was stopped.
Within minutes, both SUVs were engulfed in flames.The Expedition's driver was trapped inside and died at the scene. Her remains were so severely burned, FHP investigators required her dental records to confirm her identity.
Previously, according to prior Hollywood accident reports, Payne drove a black Dodge truck that struck two cars, then fled. He was charged with fleeing the scene of an accident, careless driving and driving on a suspended license. Somehow his license was reinstated by the end of June.
This tragic case calls into question how easy it is for dangerous drivers to keep their license despite a history of reckless driving. As most of you know, when you receive a ticket, if you are not offered traffic school or elect not to go, you are required to appear in traffic court before a magistrate or a judge. The court file for the hearing contains the individual's driving record. One cannot help but wonder whether the magistrate or judge who adjudicated this driver's prior tickets actually paid attention to his record and the nature of the violations for which he was cited. That Payne was able to keep his license, despite his history, reveals a problem with our traffic court system which allows dangerous drivers to continue to slip through the cracks and keep on driving.
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