Florida Personal Injury Lawyers Blog

May 19, 2025

News: SUV crashes into pole on Interstate 75 near Ocala, killing driver and passenger

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

OCALA, FL – The Florida Highway Patrol was dispatched to a fatal car accident that occurred near Ocala on Saturday night.

According to WKMG, the single-vehicle wreck happened along Interstate 75 near County Road 484 at about 9:35 p.m.

The FHP’s preliminary investigation indicates that the driver of an SUV was heading north in the right lane of I-75 and lost control of the vehicle. The SUV went off the right side of the road, onto a grass shoulder, and crashed into the concrete base of a light pole, causing the vehicle to catch fire.

May 16, 2025

News: Land O’Lakes woman trying to cross State Road 54 struck and killed by vehicle

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

LAND O’LAKES, FL – State troopers were called to the scene of a pedestrian fatality in Pasco County early Thursday morning.

Pasco News Online reports the victim was a 21-year-old woman from Land O’Lakes. The Florida Highway Patrol said she was running southbound across State Road 54 at about 5 a.m. when she entered the path of an eastbound Dodge Challenger near Collier Parkway.

The woman was hit by the Dodge and was pronounced dead after being taken to an area hospital. There was no word on whether the Dodge driver, a 20-year-old Tampa man, was injured in the collision.

May 15, 2025

News: Man, 22, killed when motorcycle collides with SUV on County Road 475

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

MARION COUNTY, FL – The Florida Highway Patrol said a collision in Marion County on Wednesday left a motorcycle rider dead, the Ocala StarBanner reported.

The motorcyclist collided with an SUV on County Road 475 near County Road 484 at about 5:10 p.m. The FHP’s investigation indicates that driver of a Subaru Ascent SUV was going south on CR 475 and tried to make a left turn into a private driveway. The vehicle entered the path of a Honda motorcycle that was going north on CR 475, and the bike struck the right rear side of the SUV.

The motorcyclist, a 22-year-old Summerfield man, was ejected from the bike and died at the scene. The SUV driver, a 19-year-old man from Ocala, and his 13-year-old passenger were not injured.

May 14, 2025

News: Man sentenced to prison for fatal DUI crash in Alachua County

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

ALACHUA COUNTY, FL – A man has been sentenced in connection with a fatal DUI accident in Alachua County, WCJB reports.

On Tuesday, a judge sentenced 40-year-old Jason Saul of Gainesville to 90 months in prison. Saul, who was convicted of DUI manslaughter in the Jan. 22, 2021 crash, will also have to serve 90 months of probation.

Authorities said Saul was driving a pickup truck when he crashed into the back of another pickup that was stopped at a red light on U.S. Highway 441 south of Northwest 43rd Street. The wreck caused the death of the other driver, Andra Paul Driggers.

May 13, 2025

News: Driver sought in Lake County hit-and-run that killed motorcyclist

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

LAKE COUNTY, FL – Authorities are searching for the driver involved in a fatal hit-and-run incident in Lake County Thursday night, May 8, Fox35 Orlando reports.

According to the Florida Highway Patrol, the crash occurred on U.S. 27 near Citrus Grove Road at about 10:44 p.m., where the rider of a 2009 Yamaha motorcycle was stopped at a traffic light in the inside southbound lane.

As the light turned green and the motorcyclist proceeded through the intersection, a 2024 Honda HR-V behind it swerved to avoid another vehicle. The driver of a southbound 2001 Chevrolet Tahoe failed to slow down and hit the motorcycle from behind, then collided with the Honda, and fled the scene.

May 12, 2025

News: Woman, 2 children killed in Largo crash that injured University of Miami linebacker

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

LARGO, FL – A two-vehicle collision in Largo Saturday afternoon left three people dead and two others injured, including a college football player.

According to the Miami Herald, the fatal wreck occurred in the area of Orangeview Drive and Ridge Road at about 1:45 p.m.

Police said 20-year-old Adarius Hayes, a linebacker at the University of Miami, was driving a Dodge Durango SUV south on Ridge Road when he collided with the driver of a Kia Soul SUV making a left turn.

May 9, 2025

News: Man, 23, dies following motorcycle accident in Wesley Chapel

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

WESLEY CHAPEL, FL – A Pasco County motorcycle accident last week claimed the life of a man from Wesley Chapel, the Suncoast News reports.

The crash happened on Wesley Chapel Boulevard near Progress Parkway on May 1 at about 12:25 p.m.

A preliminary investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol indicated that the 23-year-old victim was riding a Kawasaki motorcycle northbound at a high rate of speed. The motorcyclist lost control of the bike, which went off the roadway before crashing into a street sign and a light pole.

May 8, 2025

News: 3-vehicle accident shuts down southbound lanes of US 441 in Alachua County

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

GAINESVILLE, FL – Law enforcement authorities and emergency crews were dispatched to a multi-vehicle accident that disrupted traffic in Alachua County on Wednesday afternoon.

A traffic alert from the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office said the collision closed all southbound lanes of US 441 at SW Williston Road shortly before 4:15 p.m.

The sheriff’s office told WCJB that three vehicles were involved in the wreck and that injuries were reported on the scene, but no details were released on the conditions of those who had been hurt. All lanes were reported reopened by 5:25 p.m.

May 7, 2025

News: 1 person dead, 1 injured in pedestrian collision on US 19 south

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

TARPON SPRINGS, FL – One person was killed and another injured in a pedestrian accident in Tarpon Springs on Sunday night, according to Pasco News Online.

Police and emergency crews were called to US 19 southbound near Woodhill Drive after the incident occurred at about 8:30 p.m. Authorities said a southbound 2020 Kia utility vehicle struck two pedestrians who were walking westbound as they crossed US 19.

One of the victims died after being taken to Advent Health North Pinellas. She was identified as 48-year-old Mandy Adams. The other pedestrian, 43-year-old Morgan Morris, was transported to Bayonet Point Medical Center with injuries that were not life-threatening.

May 6, 2025

News: Portion of I-75 in Hernando County closed due to multi-vehicle crash

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

HERNANDO COUNTY, FL – A multi-vehicle crash disrupted traffic along a stretch of Interstate 75 in Hernando County during Tuesday morning’s commute.

Pasco News Online reports the collision occurred on I-75 south near mile post 294 at about 5:45 a.m.

The Florida Highway Patrol stated that a Toyota Camry heading south crashed into the back of a trailer being towed by a Dodge Ram 3500 pickup truck that was going at slow speed.