Woman Dead In Highway Crash - Two Children Injured

Charges Pending After Crash On US27 - One Dead, Four Injured

CLEWISTON, FL. -- A Clewiston woman is dead Wednesday after being ejected from a vehicle after a car struck the vehicle in which she was traveling from behind. 

Martha Prado, 37 of Clewiston was a passenger in a 2004 Ford Explorer driven by Francisco Pardo Garcia, 42 of Clewiston/ They were eastbound on US27 near county road 720 about 12:13 p.m. Wednesday ahead of a 2009 Nissan driven by Berta Alicia Villafuerte, 27 of Moore Haven.

The FHP says Villafuerte failed to observe Garcia's vehicle ahead and attempted to take evasive action and the left portion of the Nissan struck the rear of the Explorer. The Ford SUV began to rotate counter-clockwise. 

Villafuerte lost control causing the Nissan's left front to strike the rear of the Explorer a second time and her vehicle overturned. The Explorer entered the grassy median and passenger Martha Prado was ejected from the vehicle. She died at the scene before the FHP arrived. She was not wearing a seat belt.

Francisco Garcia suffered serious injuries and was taken to Hendry Regional Hospital. Passenger Rodrigo Prado, 4 had minor injuries and was also taken to Hendry Regional. Passenger Danial Prado, 1 was taken to Lee Memorial Hospital with minor injuries.

Villafuerte has serious injuries and was taken to Hendry Regional along with passenger Melissa Kay Bryant, 27 of Moore Haven, suffering minor injuries.

Charges are pending further investigation.