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5 killed, 3 injured in multi-vehicle crash in Flagler County, troopers say

FLAGLER COUNTY, Fla. — Five people were killed and three injured in a multi-vehicle crash on U.S. 1 near Old Dixie Highway in Flagler County, the Florida Highway Patrol said.

The crash was reported at about 11:30 a.m. Sunday and shut down the roadway in both directions, the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office said.

A Mazda SUV was trying to turn onto southbound U.S. 1 when it was hit by a Ford F-250, investigators said.

Victoria Mirston, an employee of a local bar who witnessed the crash said seeing the incident was surreal.

"We were just (having a) normal morning," she said. "(We) opened up and I heard a big boom."

The immediate aftermath was chaotic as people ran to the crash site to try and help the victims, Mirston said.

"I was lik, 'Oh my God,' that was literally what I said. One of my patrons was like, 'What?' We turned around, bolted for the door and ran out here," she said.

Five people in the Mazda were killed instantly, officials said.

Two people in the Ford were taken to the hospital where they were treated and released.

A car trying to get onto Old Dixie Highway from U.S. 1 was also involved in the crash, FHP said.

One person in the car was taken to the hospital with minor injuries.

"To see the vehicle mangled and truly grasp there were five people in there was just crazy," Mirston said.

Details on the cause of the crash were not immediately available, but FHP said three vehicles were involved.

The three people injured in the crash received non-life-threatening injuries, troopers said.

They were taken to the hospital for treatment and were subsequently released, officials said.

The roadway reopened at about 4:15 p.m., officials said.

No other information was released on the crash.