Florida Personal Injury Lawyers Blog

August 26, 2022

News: Boy on bicycle fatally struck by pickup truck along US 19

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

PALM HARBOR, FL – The Florida Highway Patrol said a boy on a bicycle was struck and killed by a pickup truck on Sunday in Palm Harbor.

The accident happened along US-19 near Grand Cypress Boulevard, according to the Tampa Free Press.

The FHP said that a Dodge pickup towing a boat trailer was headed north on US-10 when the driver passed slowing traffic and took evasive action to avoid a collision with another vehicle. The pickup went onto the shoulder of the roadway, where it struck an 11-year-old boy riding his bicycle on the sidewalk.

August 25, 2022

News: Crash on U.S. 301 in Dade City leaves 7 people injured

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

DADE CITY, FL – Rescue crews responded to the scene of a crash in Dade City on Tuesday afternoon that left seven people injured.

According to the Tampa Bay Times, the accident happened on U.S. 301 near Beth Street and was reported at about 4:15 p.m.

Pasco County Fire Rescue said two of the injured victims were hospitalized as trauma alerts, but no further details were released on their conditions. Two vehicles were reported to have sustained heavy damage in the wreck.

August 24, 2022

News: Man sentenced to prison for Ocala crash that killed 3 family members

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

OCALA, FL – A driver was sentenced to prison for a crash in Ocala that left three people dead, reports the Ocala StarBanner.

37-year-old Travis Lee Johnson pleaded no contest last week in connection with the accident that occurred in January 2017 in the area of County Road 326 and Northeast 25th Avenue.

Authorities said Johnson was behind the wheel of a tow truck on County Road 326 when he veered off the road onto a shoulder, went back onto the roadway and slammed into a sport utility vehicle.

August 23, 2022

News: Driver hospitalized after pickup hits tree, fence in Sumter County

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

SUMTER COUNTY, FL – A pickup truck accident in Sumter County Saturday morning left a driver hospitalized.

According to a report in the Villages-News, the accident happened near the intersection of County Road 319 and County Road 326 at about 10:35 a.m. The driver of a Chevrolet Colorado pickup truck drove off the roadway, crashed into a tree and then hit a fence, the Florida Highway Patrol said.

The driver, a 73-year-old man from Bushnell, was airlifted to Orlando Regional Medical Center. No information was released on the extent of his injuries.

August 22, 2022

News: Child critically injured after being hit by vehicle in Holiday

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

HOLIDAY, FL – A child was critically injured after being hit by a vehicle Friday evening, Pasco Fire Rescue said in a tweet.

The incident occurred in the 1000 block of Weston Oaks Drive in Holiday and was reported shortly after 7:30 p.m.

The victim, reported to be under age 10, was flown as a trauma alert to a local trauma center with critical injuries. No details were released on the circumstances that led to the accident.

August 19, 2022

News: 1 injured when train and vehicle collide in Dade City

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

DADE CITY, FL – Pasco Fire Rescue tweeted that it was at the scene of a collision between a train and a vehicle in Dade City on Wednesday afternoon.

The incident happened at Old Lakeland Highway at Melrose Avenue, and was reported by firefighters shortly before 1 p.m.

Rescue crews said one person was transported with serious injuries. No hazards were reported from the train.

August 18, 2022

News: Driver, 78, injured in collision with school bus in Marion County

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

MARION COUNTY, FL – A driver was injured in a collision with a school bus in Marion County Tuesday morning, state troopers said.

The accident happened in the vicinity of SW 20th Avenue Road and SW 154th Street Road at about 8 a.m., according to WGFL.

The Florida Highway Patrol said a 78-year-old woman was driving a Jeep north on SW 20th Avenue Road when she drove off the roadway onto a grass shoulder. When she tried to get back on the road, the Jeep was hit by a northbound school bus and the impact sent both vehicles onto the grass.

August 17, 2022

News: Man pleads no contest in car crash near Inverness that left 3 dead

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

CITRUS COUNTY, FL – The driver charged in a car accident that killed three people in Citrus County has pleaded no contest in the case, according to a report by the Citrus County Chronicle.

56-year-old Phillip Sawhill of Land O’Lakes will be sentenced Oct. 4 on three counts of second-degree vehicular homicide.

The crash took place Dec. 24, 2019 near the intersection of South Pleasant Grove Road and East Amy Lane near Inverness. Authorities said Sawhill was driving a Toyota Highlander and trying to pass five other northbound vehicles in a no-passing zone on South Pleasant Grove Road. His vehicle collided with a Kia Optima that was headed south. Three people in the Kia, ages 86, 85 and 62, were pronounced dead at the scene.

August 16, 2022

News: Collision between Brevard County fire truck and pickup truck injures 4

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

BREVARD COUNTY, FL – A collision in Mims involving a fire truck and a pickup truck left four people injured Sunday night, reports WOGX.

The crash happened at the intersection of U.S. Highway 1 and Burkholm Road. According to the Florida Highway Patrol, a Brevard County fire truck was returning from a call at about 10:30 p.m. The fire truck was going east on Burkholm Road when it collided with a Ford pickup truck headed south on U.S. 1.

Three firefighters were injured in the wreck, including a 39-year-old who was reported in critical condition. A 25-year-old male firefighter was listed in serious condition, while the other firefighter sustained minor injuries.

August 15, 2022

News: Driver charged with intentionally hitting motorcyclist in Crystal River

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

CRYSTAL RIVER, FL – A man is facing charges following a road rage crash in Crystal River that left a motorcyclist critically injured.

WFTS reports 25-year-old Kristopher Alan Hite is charged with attempted vehicular homicide and child neglect. The incident took place July 28, when investigators said Hite got into an argument with the motorcyclist at a stoplight on North Suncoast Boulevard.

The sheriff’s office said both drivers were speeding when Hite saw the motorcycle rider approaching from behind, then swerved into the right lane and intentionally hit the victim. The impact caused the motorcycle and the rider to flip into the air. The motorcyclist is now on life support due to the injuries suffered.