Florida Personal Injury Lawyers Blog

June 5, 2025

News: Man fatally struck in pedestrian collision along U.S. 19 in Citrus County

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

CITRUS COUNTY, FL – The Florida Highway Patrol responded to a fatal pedestrian accident in Citrus County late Friday night, according to WFTS.

The crash took place on U.S. Highway 19 at about 11:22 p.m. The FHP’s investigation determined that a 64-year-old man from Missouri was trying to cross the highway near Ivy Place when he entered the path of a Chevrolet Traverse going south. The pedestrian was struck by the vehicle and was pronounced dead at the scene.

The driver of the Chevy, a 55-year-old man, and his passenger, a 23-year-old woman, were not injured in the incident. Both are Homosassa residents.

June 4, 2025

News: Motorcyclist dies after crashing into back of tractor-trailer in Sumter County

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

SUMTER COUNTY, FL – A motorcycle collision on County Road 476B in Sumter County on Monday left a rider dead, according to a WKMG report.

The Florida Highway Patrol’s preliminary investigation indicates that the driver of a tractor-trailer was heading north shortly after 5 p.m. and was stopped in traffic while waiting to make a turn onto County Road 631. A man was riding a Harley-Davidson motorcycle at a high rate of speed and was not able to stop in time before colliding with the back of the truck.

The motorcyclist, a 22-year-old Dade City man, died at the scene. The tractor-trailer was driven by a 67-year-old man from Bushnell.

June 3, 2025

News: Minivan driver killed in rollover accident on US-441 in Ocala

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

OCALA, FL – The Ocala Police Department responded to a fatal crash in the 1700 block of U.S. 441 early Sunday morning, according to the department’s Facebook post.

A traffic homicide investigator arrived at the scene at about 2:43 a.m. It was determined that the driver of a Mazda minivan was heading north while reportedly driving recklessly at a high rate of speed. The Mazda went off the roadway, hit a concrete culvert and went airborne. The vehicle then overturned before colliding with a palm tree and a concrete wall.

The driver was ejected and pronounced dead at the scene. The victim’s identity was not immediately released.

June 2, 2025

News: Woman killed when SUV slams into sign, tree off County Road 450

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

UMATILLA, FL – Authorities said a single-vehicle wreck in Lake County on Saturday night claimed the life of a driver.

According to WKMG, the fatal accident took place in the vicinity of County Road 450 and County Road 42 near Umatilla.

The Florida Highway Patrol said the driver of an SUV was heading north on County Road 450 at about 10:30 p.m., failed to stop at a stop sign and proceeded through the intersection. The vehicle went off the roadway and onto the grass shoulder, then hit a warning sign and a tree.

May 30, 2025

News: Hernando County Sheriff’s deputy involved in collision with fleeing suspect

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

HERNANDO COUNTY, FL – A Hernando County Sheriff’s deputy was involved in a vehicle collision with a fleeing suspect on Saturday night, authorities said.

Pasco News Online reports the crash occurred near the intersection of South Main Street and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard in South Brooksville.

According to the sheriff’s office, a K-9 deputy on patrol at about 8:30 p.m. observed a driver commit a traffic infraction while going south on South Main Street. When the deputy turned around to respond, the suspect tried to flee at a high rate of speed.

May 29, 2025

News: Motorcycle rider dies after colliding with SUV in Dade City

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

DADE CITY, FL – A motorcycle and an SUV were involved in a fatal collision in Pasco County on Wednesday morning, Pasco News Online reported.

The Florida Highway Patrol was dispatched to the wreck in Dade City at about 8:15 a.m. The FHP said a man was driving a Honda motorcycle north on Bellamy Brothers Boulevard. When the motorcyclist tried to turn left onto Bayhead Road, he lost control of the bike and was separated from it.

The rider entered the path of a Hyundai SUV heading south and was hit by the vehicle. The motorcyclist, a 37-year-old Lithia man, died at the scene.

May 28, 2025

News: Man charged with DUI manslaughter in collision that killed Ocala woman

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

MARION COUNTY, FL – Authorities have announced an arrest in connection with a fatal accident that took place Feb. 1, 2025, in Marion County, WKMG reports.

The incident occurred in the area of County Road 484 and San Pedro Boulevard at about 7 a.m. The Florida Highway Patrol states the driver of a Kia Sorento SUV was heading east on C.R. 484, failed to maintain his lane, crossed over the double yellow painted line, and collided with a westbound Kia Forte sedan head-on.

The driver of the Forte, a 50-year-old woman from Ocala, died after being taken to an area hospital. The Sorento driver, identified as 21-year-old James Carter, was seriously injured. The FHP said that while Carter was at the hospital, he “spontaneously” admitted drinking alcohol beverages before getting behind the wheel, and added that his driver’s license was suspended.

May 27, 2025

News: Driver sought in Holiday hit-and-run crash that seriously injured motorcycle rider

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

HOLIDAY, FL – The Florida Highway Patrol said a hit-and-run driver struck and injured a motorcyclist in Pasco County on Sunday night, reports Pasco News Online.

The collision occurred at the intersection of Grand Boulevard and Sunray Drive. According to the FHP’s preliminary investigation, the driver of an SUV failed to obey a traffic signal at about 11:21 p.m. and entered the path of a Harley Davidson Street Glide motorcycle going east on Sunray Drive, resulting in a collision.

The motorcyclist, a 60-year-old man from Holiday, was taken to an area hospital with serious injuries. The driver of the SUV, which may have been silver, did not stop after the crash and was last seen heading south on Grand Boulevard.

May 26, 2025

News: Bicyclist critically injured after being hit by vehicle in Ocala collision

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

OCALA, FL – The Ocala Police Department was called to the scene of a vehicle vs. bicycle collision on Saturday, WCJB reported.

The bicyclist was struck by a vehicle at the intersection of State Road 200 and Southwest 27th Avenue, investigators said. The rider was taken to an area hospital with what were reported to be life-threatening injuries.

Traffic was being diverted in both directions on State Road 200 while police and emergency crews were responding to the accident.

May 23, 2025

News: Man arrested in hit-and-run incident involving golf cart in The Villages

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

SUMTER COUNTY, FL – A man is facing charges in connection with a hit-and-run crash involving a golf cart in The Villages last year, according to the Villages-News.

The incident took place Aug. 2, 2024, on Priddy Way in Wildwood near The Villages Charter School campus. Authorities said a man was driving a golf cart northeast when the car was struck by a Ford F-150 pickup truck traveling at a high rate of speed. The golf cart driver was taken to the UF Health Emergency Room Clinic with minor injuries.

The driver of the pickup truck fled the scene. The vehicle was caught on surveillance video jumping a curb and hitting a gate arm at the entrance to the Middleton community. The golf cart driver later confirmed that images of the pickup truck that were captured on the video indicated it was the same vehicle that hit his cart. The truck’s license plate number was also caught on the footage.