One died after Hit-and-Run Collision with Tractor Trailer
On Friday morning, March 15, Jacksonville resident Maria Ocasio, 50, was killed after a tractor-trailer struck her car on Highway 17 in Fleming Island, Florida.
Florida Highway Patrol officers say Ocasio was driving south around 7:15 AM when the tractor-trailer tried to move into her lane. The trailer hit Ocasio’s car, sending it off the roadway and onto the median, where it struck a support pole. The truck’s driver, Johnny Gratta, 68, continued south until he was stopped by authorities.
A Clay County deputy witnessed the crash and attempted to aid Ocasio before chasing after the truck. Sadly, Ocasio was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident. The deputy later caught up with the truck and pulled it over, then arrested Gratta for leaving the scene of a crash resulting in a fatality.
Troopers say Gratta is cooperating with the investigation.
If there was negligence on the part of the semitrailer driver or the truck’s manufacturer, Ocasio’s family may have grounds to move forward with a civil Wrongful Death case.
The Law Offices of Craig Goldenfarb, P.A. is dedicated to protecting the rights of individuals and families that have suffered injuries due to the negligence of others. Our attorneys have more than 170 years of combined experience investigating and representing those who have suffered tragic loss or severe injuries.
If you know a surviving family member of a person who was killed in a trucking crash, please encourage them to give our firm a call immediately. The consultation is completely free, and there is no out-of-pocket cost to the family to hire us.
