The Florida Highway Patrol says it will arrest and charge the suspect in the horrific April 3 wrong-way head-on collision on I-95 that killed Dennis Ortiz, 31, of California, and Albertson Anthony Almase, 31, Kristina Almase, 26, and Lily Azarcon, 26, of the Philippines.

See also:
-Four Dead in Horrific Highway Crash Near Hallandale Beach Boulevard
-Pictures of Yesterday's Car Crash Victims Show Beautiful Family

Willie Dumel, 25, will be charged with four counts of vehicular homicide and one count of driving with a suspended license, according to FHP.

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Kristina Almase

The Florida Highway Patrol released the identities of the four victims killed in a horrific traffic accident yesterday that's roiled the region. Two of the victims were affiliated with the United States Navy.

Dennis Ortiz, 31, of California; Albertson, 31, and Kristina Almase, 26, of the U.S. Navy; and Lily Azarcon, 26, of the Philippines, were killed in a head-on collision on I-95 in south Broward early yesterday morning. Police say Willie Dumel, 25, of North Miami Beach, had driven north on the highway while fleeing Opa-Locka police, and may face charges of vehicular homicide.

See also:
- Four Dead in Horrific Highway Crash Near Hallandale Beach Boulevard

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WALTER MICHOT / MIAMI HERALD STAFF

Updated, 10:24 a.m."We assumed there were four people killed, but we just don't know how many people were in the van," said Joe Sanchez, spokesperson for the Florida Highway Patrol, referring to a terrifying accident that has rocked the region this morning. "It was that bad of an accident."

Sanchez didn't know exactly how fast the vehicles were moving when a minivan and a Chevrolet Suburban hit each other head-on at 1 a.m. "But speed definitely played a factor. Just look at the pictures," he said. "You can just tell how fast these cars were going."

"I've been on the Florida Highway Patrol for awhile, and I can just tell you, this was a really bad accident."

None of the identities of those involved in the crash have been released, Sanchez said. Most of that information, he said, will be in a press statement released later today.

Charges of vehicular homicide are pending against the driver who struck the minivan, Sanchez said.

Original Post: Four people were killed in a horrific accident at 1 o'clock this morning after a driver, fleeing police, went north on I-95 south and crashed head-on into a minivan carrying four people near Hallandale Beach Boulevard, the Broward County Sheriff's Department told New Times.

Opa-locka police were pursuing the driver of a Chevrolet Surburban, who had gotten on I-95 at Ives Dairy Road going the wrong way. Police didn't follow the driver onto the highway, said David Chiverton, at the scene last night.

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FAU

President Saunders

Update, 4:24 p.m.: Lisa Metcalf, Director, Media Relations & University Spokesperson for FAU wrote in an e-mail "Police were on the scene at the time of the alleged incident. We are not going to comment until the investigation is complete."

The University Press tweeted an image of Saunders driving her car today here. 

At noon, students involved with Stop Owlcatraz -- the movement to halt Florida Atlantic University's naming of its stadium after private prison operator GEO Group -- contacted New Times to report that student leader Britni Hiatt had been struck, though only slightly injured, by FAU President Mary Jane Saunders' 2011 Lexus GS as Saunders was leaving a meeting today.

Students said a report was being filed with campus police. New Times contacted the police department, which referred us to media relations, which has yet to comment on the matter. FAU's student newspaper is reporting that the incident was corroborated by three witnesses.
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A bakery truck traveling on an overpass above I-95 at State Road 84 crashed before dawn and left the cab dangling over the edge. The driver was transported to Broward General Medical Center, and the passenger was reportedly dead. More »

Well now, this is awful.

Jupiter Police Officer Bruce St. Laurent, who was riding in a motorcade for President Obama as the president was on his way to the Palm Beach County Convention Center yesterday, was struck and killed by a vehicle.

According to Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office spokeswoman Teri Barbera, St. Laurent was about to shut down I-95 by the 45th Street exit when a Ford F-150 pickup truck hit him.

The 55-year-old St. Laurent was rushed to St. Mary's Medical Center, where he later died.

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