The driver of an Uber that was involved in a fiery, multi-vehicle crash in October on Interstate 95 in Delray Beach has died, his family said.
Family members said Carlos Molina, 62, died Monday at Jackson Memorial Hospital's Ryder Trauma Center from respiratory failure.
"With heavy hearts, we want to let everyone know my dad has passed away," daughter Sandra Ospina wrote on GoFundMe. "My dad fought this battle with so much strength and courage. He left a huge mark in so many lives and life will never be the same without him."
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Molina had previously been airlifted from Delray Medical Center after suffering both second and third-degree burns in the October 25 crash.
A total of five cars were involved in the crash on I-95 near Atlantic Avenue. Florida Highway Patrol officials said one of the cars, driven by Robert Hall, traveled into the tanker's lane of travel, causing a collision. The tanker overturned.
A third driver swerved to avoid the crash and hit the median, knocking down a light pole that fell into traffic, hitting the fourth and fifth cars, officials said.
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Footage showed a tanker truck and two cars on fire near the median of the highway, with plumes of thick black smoke filling the air.
Multiple fire trucks responded to the scene and the roadway was completely shut down as crews worked to put out the flames.
"It just happened so fast, he said he tried to avoid it but in just a split second when he just saw himself completely on fire," said Molina's son, Carlo.
Carlo Molina said he spoke with his father shortly before the crash.
“He told me he was going to go pick up someone else and he questioned me. He said 'do you think I should do it? Do you think it’s fine?' I said 'yeah yeah, you’ll be fine' and then, deep sigh,” he said.
Carlo Molina was extremely close to his father and said his smile would brighten any room.
"He was one of a kind and he was never selfish," he said. "He always cared about everyone else around him first than him."
Fire rescue officials said five people ended up with injuries in the crash, with three of them seriously hurt.
Firefighter Brian Aparicio was injured in the crash. Aparicio and his girlfriend, Su Hninyi, were in the Uber headed toward a cruise port when the tanker flipped on its side and burst into flames.
Aparicio had apparently broken out of the car window to escape but went back to save Su when he realized she was still in the car. Video from the scene showed them running from the fiery wreck.
Both were taken to Jackson Memorial Hospital and later released.
Carlo Molina said his father had burns on most of his body, but he eventually left the hospital and went home to continue his recovery. But he said he returned to the hospital after catching pneumonia, which took his life.
“Always said that life is fragile and I would always talk about it with my friends and we would see the events and situations that would happen around us. But now that I’m living one I didn’t think that it could be this fragile," Carlo Molina said.
Hall was expected to be cited in the crash.
