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Three Hospitalized After Family Hit by Car in Dania Beach Sunday Night

Members of a family in town from Utah for a cruise are instead recovering in a Fort Lauderdale hospital after being hit by a car Sunday night.

Officers say just before 8 p.m., a group of six people were walking back to their Dania Beach hotel from dinner along 42nd Street – north of Griffin Road and west of I-95 – when they were hit by a truck that had been going westbound, but crossed over into the eastbound lanes and struck three people in the median.

Raquel Leota, 24, was critically injured, while her 10-year-old brother Tyson Wensel suffered a serious leg injury. Leota's husband, 31-year-old Thomas, was also hurt according to BSO Fire Rescue’s Mike Jachles. Four other people - Raquel and Tyson's parents as well as two other siblings - were unhurt.

All three were taken to Broward Health Medical Center as was the driver of the truck, 57-year-old James Howell - who was treated and released.

The family released a short statement saying they are grateful to the BSO, paramedics and hospital staff for taking good care of them.

Officials continue their investigation to see if speed or alcohol played a role in the crash.

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