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Teen Killed, Another Injured in Crash on Airport Expressway in Miami-Dade

FHP says speed played in a role in crash that had State Road 112 shut down

One person was killed and another was badly injured in a crash on the Airport Expressway in northwest Miami-Dade early Wednesday morning.

The crash happened just before 3:30 a.m. when a BMW carrying three teenagers traveling eastbound on State Road 112 before Northwest 27th Avenue hit the inside guardrail, Florida Highway Patrol trooper Joe Sanchez said.

Part of the guardrail pierced the vehicle, and the driver was killed at the scene, Sanchez said. The front seat passenger had to have his arm amputated before being rushed to Ryder Trauma Center.

The driver was later identified as 14-year-old Jerome Gardner. The passenger who lost his arm was identified as 14-year-old Clifton Patterson.

A third teen, 16-year-old Carlton Smith, suffered minor bruising and was able to go home.

Patterson's father said he believes the teens somehow rented the car, even though they're underage. FHP says the car is registered to an owner in Hialeah.

Sanchez say speed played a role in the crash, but their investigation continues.

"This accident...was caused by drivers which were driving at a high rate of speed and possibly even recklessly," Sanchez said.

Troopers also say that the roadway, commonly known as the Airport Expressway which allows travelers to get from I-95 to Miami International Airport, will be closed for most of the morning due to that investigation and clean-up.

Sanchez warned drivers to be careful on the roads over the holiday.

"Thanksgiving is the most dangerous holiday in the United States, the day before Thanksgiving fatal accidents have increased by 15 percent," he said.

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