Channel 10 Miami
U.S. 1 Shut Down By Car Bomb Explosion - Woman Left In Critical Condition By Blast
Updated: 2:56 p.m. EST February 27, 2002
MARATHON, Fla. -- U.S. 1 has been shut down in the Keys after a car bomb exploded, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
Troopers say that the explosion happened near mile marker 50 at the intersection of U.S. 1 and Sombrero Beach Road on Marathon Key.
The blast knocked the car about 15 feet forward, blew off the trunk, exploded the windows and severely injured Evon Leach, 51, who was airlifted to Jackson Memorial Hospital. The explosion also blasted away chunks of pavement and damaged a nearby vehicle, according to Becky Herrin, Monroe County Sheriff's spokeswoman.
Police say Leach was on her way to work as a nurse at a nursing home when the bomb went off.
"The road has been closed since 8:45 this morning. Traffic is backed up tremendously," a Monroe County public information officer said.
The bomb-squad was called in to check out a possible second explosive device, but later they said that the object was not another bomb.
U.S. 1 is closed in both directions. The closure affects traffic only at the mile marker 50 point. U.S. 1 and the Overseas Highway from Miami through Key Largo, and Islamorada through eastern Marathon remains open at this time