Coral Gables

Early Morning Car Crash Caused by Texting in Miami Kills One on U.S. 1

What to Know

  • A man was killed at the scene after his SUV flipped into oncoming traffic on U.S. 1 in Coral Gables early Thursday morning.

An early morning car crash in Miami claimed one life while police continue to investigate what caused the wreck.

Officers say the incident took place shortly before 1 a.m. Thursday morning. Officials told NBC 6 that 25-year-old Maynor De Jesus Portobanco was driving a SUV on U.S. 1 going southbound and went through the light at Douglas Road while texting.

The vehicle then went out of control, hitting two palm trees and was struck by a car traveling in the northbound lanes. The SUV then flipped and Porotbanco died at the scene, reportedly with a cell phone still in his hands. Witnesses described the crash as sounding "like a bomb" had gone off.

The driver of the second car was unhurt and was interviewed by police. The scene caused U.S. 1 to be shut down for hours between Douglas Road and Ponce De Leon Boulevard for hours, re-opening shortly after 5:30 AM.

Police also said cocaine was found in the SUV.

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