Florida

Driver Accused in Fatal I-95 Wrong-Way Wreck Identified

New details have been released about the woman who the Florida Highway Patrol said caused a wrong-way wreck that killed four family members.

It happened around 1 a.m. Wednesday on I-95 northbound near Miami Gardens Drive in the express lanes.

Reuben Paez's wife Gisela, his daughter Gisela and her husband Jose, along with his son Miguel, were all killed in the violent crash. He told NBC 6 he'll remember his wife by all of the love that united them together for almost 40 years.

Paez also said the reason his family was out on the road when they crashed was that his wife and son were picking the rest of the family up at the airport.

He added he and other family tried calling them all night. But when police showed up at his son's house in Cooper City the next morning, he knew it wasn't good.

The woman behind the wheel of the pickup truck speeding southbound in the northbound lane was 23-year-old Alexandra Lefler. She reportedly grew up in the Miami area, but had been living in California.

Her neighbor, Martell Parrish, said like everyone, he's heartbroken, "I grew up with her and it kind of hurt my heart."

He said he has no idea why she would be driving on the wrong side of the road. That's something no one will ever know as Alexandra was the fifth person killed in the crash.

NBC 6 also spoke with Miguel's wife, Ines, on Thursday. She said Miguel was first her friend, then her boyfriend, then her husband. They were a team.

In total, five vehicles were involved in the crash. Two other people were transported to the hospital, but their injuries appeared to be non-life threatening, according to FHP.

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