Deputies said the three-vehicle wreck happened before sunrise near Florida City.
FLORIDA CITY, FL — Two men were killed and another man was left fighting for his life after a multi-vehicle crash on Card Sound Road early Thursday, authorities said. The wreck happened around 5:15 a.m. south of U.S. 1, closing the road for hours as investigators worked the scene.
The crash struck a busy stretch used by commuters, commercial drivers and travelers heading to and from the Florida Keys. Card Sound Road is an alternate route between the mainland and Key Largo and can serve as a relief route when traffic backs up on U.S. 1. Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office traffic investigators took over the case Thursday as crews cleared vehicles and tried to determine what caused the collision.
Deputies and Miami-Dade Fire Rescue crews were dispatched to Card Sound Road at about 5:15 a.m. after reports of a crash involving three vehicles, officials said. The wreck happened roughly eight miles south of U.S. 1 in the Florida City area, in a corridor lined by mangroves and wetlands. Paramedics pronounced two adult men dead at the scene. A third man, described by officials as critically injured, was flown by helicopter to a hospital as a trauma patient, authorities said. Investigators did not immediately release the men’s names, ages or hometowns, and they did not say whether the men were drivers, passengers, or a mix of both.
Fire rescue officials reported multiple patients were evaluated and transported after the crash, indicating that more than the three most seriously affected people were involved. Miami-Dade Fire Rescue said six patients were connected to the incident, including one patient who was treated as a trauma alert. One adult patient was taken by air rescue to a trauma center, while others were transported by ground units for treatment, officials said. The extent of their injuries was not fully detailed later Thursday, and officials did not say whether any of the additional patients declined transport. The sheriff’s office said two men died at the scene and another remained in critical condition after being rushed to a hospital.
Card Sound Road was closed in both directions from U.S. 1 to the Monroe County line as crews worked, the sheriff’s office said. The closure cut off a well-known alternate approach to the Upper Keys, forcing drivers to reroute to U.S. 1’s main stretch through southern Miami-Dade County. The shutdown also affected work crews and deliveries traveling between the mainland and northern Monroe County. Officials urged motorists to avoid the area and expect delays, but they did not give a precise reopening time while the investigation and cleanup continued.
Investigators described the case as an active traffic fatality investigation, which typically involves documenting the scene, measuring skid marks, photographing damage, and collecting vehicle data before vehicles can be removed. The sheriff’s office said its Traffic Homicide unit assumed the investigation. Officials did not immediately say what led up to the crash, whether speed was a factor, or whether any driver may have been impaired. They also did not say whether any vehicles caught fire, whether seat belts were used, or whether weather conditions played a role. By late morning, the focus remained on reconstructing the collision and identifying the men who died.
The crash drew attention because Card Sound Road is more than a local shortcut. The route runs to the Card Sound Bridge and provides an alternate path into and out of the Florida Keys, including during major backups or emergencies when the main highway is strained. Transportation officials have described the corridor as a principal alternate route and an evacuation option for the Keys, underscoring how quickly a serious wreck can ripple beyond the immediate crash site. When Card Sound Road is blocked, traffic funnels to U.S. 1, a single main artery for much of the island chain.
Thursday’s wreck also echoed a broader pattern of deadly early-morning crashes in South Florida, when visibility can be limited and fatigue can be a factor for drivers heading to work, traveling overnight, or driving commercial routes. Card Sound Road’s long, straight stretches may encourage higher speeds, while its narrow shoulders and surrounding wetlands leave little room for error. Authorities did not provide a description of the vehicles involved, but they said the crash involved three vehicles and was serious enough to require an airlift and a prolonged closure.
As investigators worked, the crash scene became a staging area for patrol vehicles, rescue units and tow trucks. Debris and damaged vehicles were visible along the roadway, and traffic was turned back well before the county line. Drivers approaching from the north were stopped near the U.S. 1 connection, while those coming from the Keys side encountered barricades near the Monroe County boundary. The rural setting meant few nearby businesses, but the closure still drew steady attention from passersby and from people trying to reach jobs, appointments and school drop-offs on the mainland.
Later Thursday, officials said the critical patient had been transported for emergency care, but no update was released on the person’s condition. The sheriff’s office did not announce any arrests or citations and did not say whether charges could be filed later. In serious crashes, investigators may wait for toxicology results, vehicle inspections, and a final reconstruction report before deciding whether any driver actions rise to the level of criminal charges. Authorities said more information would be released once next of kin are notified and the preliminary investigation is further along.
For now, the case remains centered on the unanswered questions of how the vehicles came together and which direction each vehicle was traveling in the moments before impact. Investigators will also likely examine whether any mechanical failures, roadway conditions, or driver distraction contributed. Officials said the roadway remained closed for a significant portion of the day as they worked to clear the scene and document evidence.
Author note: Last updated February 19, 2026.