100-year-old man dies in crash after drivers stop for sandhill cranes, troopers say

Sandhill cranes. File photo.  (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)

Sandhill cranes. File photo. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)

A 100-year-old man has died and two people were seriously injured in a multivehicle crash after drivers stopped for a family of sandhill cranes that was crossing the street, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

>> Read more trending news

Troopers said the crash occurred not far from the Brevard Zoo, on Sunday around 10:30 a.m.

The drivers of two vehicles that were going west on Wickham Road had stopped in the left lane as the sandhill cranes were crossing the street, according to a release.

Troopers said the driver of a third vehicle going west on Wickham Road swerved to go around the stopped cars before noticing the birds walking across the street and then swerved back into the left lane, hitting the two stopped vehicles.

The 100-year-old man was a passenger inside the vehicle that swerved to avoid the sandhill cranes. He was taken to Viera Hospital after the crash, where he died, troopers said.

FHP said the crash remains under investigation.