Florida Truck Driver Cited In Crash That Killed Whitman Family

WEYMOUTH, MA — The driver of a truck that killed a Weymouth grandmother and three members of her Whitman family when it slammed into their van near Disney World last month has been cited for careless driving. Florida Highway Patrol said on Monday that while an investigation determined that Lucas Dos Reis Laurindo, 26, was at fault in the crash, the careless driving citation is the "strongest charge that could be made against him" under Florida state law.

Laurindo will be required to appear in court. Florida Highway Patrol said Laurindo has been in custody since Feb. 28 on a visa violation and will be required to appear in court to face the careless driving charge. Highway Patrol said the two vehicles came up on slowing traffic due to congestion on Feb. 19 when Lorindo's Dodge Ram truck slammed into the back of the Toyota Sienna.

The van was involved in a four-vehicle crash around 5:30 p.m. on State Road 429 in Osceola County. Scarlett Smith, 5, her brother, Jaxson, 11, and their mother Julie, 41, all of Whitman, were killed as well as Josephine Fay, 76, of Weymouth. The children's father, grandfather and two other siblings — all of whom were also in the van — were taken to the hospital with minor injuries.

Two other vehicles were involved in the crash. Laurindo was not injured.

There was an outpouring of emotion from both the Weymouth and Whitman communities for the family that included a candlelight vigil in memories of Julie Smith, Fay and the two children.

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