Florida Personal Injury Lawyers Blog
MARION COUNTY, FL – Authorities made an arrest in connection with an alleged drunk driving crash in Marion County that claimed the life of a bicycle rider.
According to the Ocala StarBanner, the incident happened Saturday morning on County Road 25 near Southeast 80th Court shortly before 2 a.m. The Florida Highway Patrol determined that a man was riding an electric bike on the westbound shoulder of the roadway. At the same time, the driver of a rented 2025 Chevrolet Malibu was traveling west and hit the bicycle from behind.
The bike rider, a 37-year-old Ocala man, was ejected and suffered fatal injuries. The Chevy driver lost control of the vehicle, which went off the road, struck a utility pole and then a concrete post before overturning.
The FHP identified the driver as 34-year-old Janice Schwarz of Belleview. State troopers said she showed signs of being under the influence and failed field sobriety tests. She was subsequently arrested on one count of DUI manslaughter and four counts of DUI with property damage. Schwarz was treated at a local hospital and then taken to the Marion County Jail.
County Road 25 was shut down in both directions for about four hours for the accident response and investigation.
If you have lost a loved one in an accident due to someone else’s negligence or misconduct, the compassionate Marion County wrongful death lawyers at Whittel & Melton are here to assist you during this difficult time. We will thoroughly review your case and help you understand all the types of damages to which you are entitled. While we cannot guarantee a specific result, we can significantly improve your chances of recovering financial damages for your loss. We can be reached online or by phone at 866-608-5529 to schedule a free consultation regarding your case.