Police: Woman struck, killed on I-4 while running for safety

ORLANDO, Fla. — Orlando police still have not identified a woman who was struck and killed after getting out of her crashed car on Interstate 4 early Thursday morning.

The crash happened about 3 a.m. in the westbound lanes near Kirkman Road, according to officials. The lanes were reopened shortly after 8:30 a.m.

Police said a woman in her 20s crashed her car in one of the middle lanes before 3 a.m. and then tried to run to the side of the road.

Authorities said the vehicles behind her didn’t stop in time, and the victim was struck and killed instantly.

Officials have not released the victim's identity.

“This is a very dark portion of I-4 in the city,” said Lt. John Holysz. “It was heavily traveled this morning due to the celebrations downtown, Halloween.”

Seven cars were involved in the crash, but investigators are still trying to figure out exactly what happened. They're also checking to see if alcohol may have been involved.

As traffic reopened, police told WFTV the tragedy was likely unavoidable.

“We have a woman, an individual out in the middle of the roadway, in heavy traffic, and it can become rather unavoidable to hit a pedestrian in the middle of I-4,” Holysz said.

The road closure caused significant backups and delays for more than five hours.  By the time the Interstate was reopened, the westbound backup had reached about four miles.

WFTV