On February 19, two senior citizens had a harrowing experience driving down Monaco Boulevard from Jog Road. It seemed like it was going to be a regular afternoon for 81-year-old Joyce Zanleone and 76-year-old Joseph Zanleone, but things escalated quickly.
The pair was in their 2020 Hyundai when Joseph Zanleone lost control of the car as it picked up speed. The vehicle zoomed through a stop sign, a hedge line, a roadway sign, and a cement planter. As if this wasn’t bad enough, the Hyundai’s progress would be stopped when it crashed into a residential building located at 529 Brittany Lane in Kings Point.
The car caught fire, which prompted Palm Beach County Fire Rescue personnel to show up at the scene. When assistance arrived, it was determined that Joyce Zanleone had passed away at the scene of the incident.
Joseph Zanleone survived the crash but is dealing with serious injuries at Delray Medical Center.
Additional crews were dispatched to the area, such as a building inspector and Florida Power and Light representatives. They were on hand to examine the damage done to the residential building.
Since the fire was put out in relatively short order, there was no notable damage done to the structure, and no injuries were reported among residents of the building. This is a pretty remarkable outcome, considering that the Hyundai was heading for the structure at a high rate of speed.
As the investigation remains ongoing, it is not clear at this time whether the accident was caused by driver error or a mechanical failure on the part of the vehicle.
Lytal, Reiter, Smith, Ivey & Fronrath is saddened to hear about the death of Joyce Zanleone, and hopes that Joseph is able to make a full and speedy recovery. If you or someone you know has been hurt in a motor vehicle accident, please call us at (561) 655-1990.
