Child Dead After Glades Crash

Driver Loses Control

MOORE HAVEN, FL. -- At 3:40 P.M. Sunday Karina Duarte crashed her 2005 Kia Spectra on State Road 78 about 6 miles west of U.S. 27. Passenger Joshua Artavia, age 6 was injured and flown to Lee Memorial Hospital where he died seven hours later.  Passenger Christian Artavia, age 8 was not injured.

The Kia was eastbound on S.R. 78 proceeding through a left hand curve in the roadway. The driver of the Kia allowed the vehicle to drift onto the south grass and dirt shoulder of the roadway. The driver over-corrected the Kia to the left causing the vehicle to rotate counterclockwise as it reentered the roadway. The driver then over-corrected back to the right causing the Kia to rotate clockwise as it traveled back to the south shoulder of the roadway.

Once on the shoulder, the driver over-corrected the Kia to the left causing the vehicle to rotate counterclockwise as
the vehicle began to slide with the passenger side leading. The Kia continued this movement along the shoulder until the passenger side wheels struck a raised portion of the shoulder causing the vehicle to overturn. The Kia overturned several times, struck a guardrail which parallels S.R.78, and came to final rest on its left side facing generally south.

The driver and 8 year old passenger were transported to Hendry Regional Medical Center. The 6 year old passenger was transported via MedFlight to Lee Memorial Hospital. Additional passenger: Christian Artavia, 8 years old was from Ft. Myers, FL, Seatbelts were in use.