Florida Personal Injury Lawyers Blog

April 30, 2025

News: FHP investigating van accident on Florida’s Turnpike that left 5 dead

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

OSCEOLA COUNTY, FL – The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating a crash on Florida’s Turnpike Sunday evening that left five people dead, according to WESH.

The single-vehicle accident occurred in the turnpike’s northbound lanes at mile marker 211 in Kenansville, Osceola County. State troopers said the driver of a 2004 E-350 van with 12 occupants lost control of the vehicle at about 7:38 p.m. The van overturned several times, struck a guardrail, and ended up in a ditch. A preliminary investigation said the crash may have been caused by a tire malfunction.

Five passengers, two males and three females, were pronounced dead at the scene. Seven others were injured, four critically. They were taken to Osceola Regional Medical Center and Holmes Regional Medical Center.

April 29, 2025

News: Motorcyclist, 74, dies after colliding with SUV at intersection in Marion County

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

MARION COUNTY, FL – A man was killed Saturday afternoon when his motorcycle was involved in a collision with a vehicle in Marion County, authorities said.

According to Pasco News Online, the crash took place at the intersection of County Road 25 and SE Sunset Harbor Road at about 4:11 p.m.

A preliminary investigation indicated that the driver of an eastbound Hyundai Tucson SUV stopped at the stop sign at that location. As the driver proceeded into the intersection, the SUV was struck on the side by a Harley Davidson motorcycle that was going south on County Road 25.

April 28, 2025

News: Head-on collision in Alachua County leaves 1 dead, 3 critically injured

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

NEWBERRY, FL – The Florida Highway Patrol released details of a deadly crash that occurred in Alachua County on Sunday, according to the Gainesville Sun.

State troopers were dispatched to Northwest County Road 235 near Northwest 204th Street after the incident occurred shortly after 6 p.m. An SUV and a sedan had collided near the intersection northeast of Newberry

The FHP determined that the accident happened when one of the drivers was going south on the roadway and tried to pass another vehicle in a no-passing zone.

April 25, 2025

News: Wrong-way collision on U.S. 27 in Lake County kills 1 driver, injures 2 others

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

LAKE COUNTY, FL – A wrong-way driver was involved in a fatal collision in Lake County on Wednesday night, according to a WKMG report.

The Florida Highway Patrol said the driver of a 2017 Dodge Charger was going south in the northbound lane of U.S. 27 in the vicinity of Adkins Lane near Groveland at about 9:50 p.m.

The Dodge crashed into a northbound 2017 Toyota Corolla, then struck another northbound vehicle, a 2016 Jeep Renegade.

April 24, 2025

News: State troopers searching for driver in Marion County hit-and-run crash

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

MARION COUNTY, FL – A search is underway for the driver involved in a hit-and-run incident in Marion County last week, reports WKMG.

The Florida Highway Patrol released surveillance images of the pickup truck they are looking for. The crash occurred April 18 in the area of State Road 326 and NE Jacksonville Road.

The FHP said the driver of the pickup was going west on S.R. 326 at about 7:25 a.m. at the same time the driver of a sedan was heading east on the roadway. As the sedan went through the intersection with NE Jacksonville Road, the pickup driver made a left turn in front of it, resulting in a collision. The impact then caused the sedan to crash into a parked car.

April 23, 2025

95-year-old man from The Villages dies in wreck on Buena Vista Boulevard

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

SUMTER COUNTY, FL – A car wreck in Sumter County claimed the life of an elderly driver on Monday morning, reports WKMG.

The incident took place on Buena Vista Boulevard in the area of Bonita Boulevard. An investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol indicated that a 95-year-old man was driving north in a Buick sedan at about 9:17 a.m. when he failed to negotiate a curve in the roadway. He drove off the road, where his car then collided with a fence and a tree.

The driver, a resident of The Villages, was pronounced dead after being transported to an area hospital. No other vehicles were involved in the accident.

April 22, 2025

News: Pedestrian fatally struck by vehicle near intersection in Lake County

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

LAKE COUNTY, FL – Authorities were dispatched to a fatal pedestrian collision in Lake County on Tuesday morning, WKMG reported.

The Florida Highway Patrol stated that a person was struck by a vehicle at about 5:55 a.m. near the intersection of Lake Mack Drive and Inez Street, just west of DeLand. No details have been released on the identity of the victim, who was pronounced dead at the scene.

Road closures were in effect in the area while the FHP investigated the incident.

April 21, 2025

News: Collision on U.S. 441 in Summerfield leaves pedestrian dead, driver injured

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

SUMMERFIELD, FL – One man was killed and another injured in a pedestrian collision in Marion County on Friday afternoon, reports the Ocala StarBanner.

The Florida Highway Patrol and Marion County Fire Rescue were dispatched to the crash in the 15200 block of U.S. 441 south in Summerfield at 1:19 p.m.

The FHP’s investigation indicated that a man was walking south on U.S. 441 while pushing a shopping cart near the right side of the highway’s white line. At the same time, the driver of a Chevrolet Silverado hauling a trailer was heading southbound. The pedestrian was struck by the front of the pickup truck, and the impact knocked him into the grassy shoulder on the west side of the road.

April 18, 2025

News: Man, 25, killed when motorcycle crashes into curb in Clermont

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

CLERMONT, FL – A crash claimed the life of a motorcyclist and disrupted traffic in a portion of Clermont on Friday morning.

According to WKMG, the incident occurred on Hammock Ridge Road near Lake Louisa Road. The Florida Highway Patrol’s investigation found that a motorcycle rider was going south on Hammock Ridge Road at about 6:43 a.m. and failed to negotiate a curve in the roadway.

The motorcycle went off the road and struck a curb, and the rider was ejected from the bike. The motorcyclist, a 25-year-old man from Ocoee, died at the scene.

April 17, 2025

News: Pasco County Sheriff’s deputy struck by motorcyclist on US-19

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

PASCO COUNTY, FL – A Pasco County Sheriff’s deputy was struck and injured by a motorcyclist while attempting a traffic stop last week, according to a WFTS report.

The incident took place April 11 in the area of U.S. 19 and Beach Boulevard in Hudson at about 2 p.m. The sheriff’s office said the deputy approached a man driving a black motorcycle to conduct the stop, but the motorcycle rider drove towards the deputy, struck him, and dragged him about ten feet.

The deputy suffered injuries that were not life-threatening. A search is now underway for the motorcycle rider, who was reported to have been driving a Suzuki SC650 while wearing a full-face helmet, a tan shirt, black shorts, and back-top sneakers.