Florida Turnpike crash kills teacher, injures 7 students

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (WSVN) -- Seven high school students had to be hospitalized and their teacher died after a car crash early Sunday morning on the Florida Turnpike.

Family and friends told Seven News, Gerald Oliphant, a teacher from South Florida Christian Preparatory Academy, and the seven students were driving back from a high school senior trip at Orlando's Universal Studios Sunday.

According to the Florida Highway Patrol, at around 6 a.m., their Chevy Suburban was driving south on the Turnpike near Coconut Creek Parkway when it overturned several times, ejecting several occupants. Police said 17-year-old Livingston Finley was behind the wheel.

Rescue crews transported six of the injured to Broward General Medical Center and two were taken to North Broward Medical Center.

Friends grieved outside of Broward Medical Center for Oliphant, the one fatality in the crash. "He was somebody who we all respect and love, and he was there for me a lot, and I'm going to miss him," Lamont Walker said.

Eugenia Ellis said her 18-year-old daughter is on life support with a collapsed lung. "I am not sure if the guy fell asleep at the wheel or whatever, but everybody got ejected from the vehicle," she said.

FHP noted that no one in the vehicle was wearing their seat belt.

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