Articles Posted in DUI Car Accidents

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THE VILLAGES, FL – Authorities said an alleged drunk driver is now facing charges over a fatal 2023 accident in The Villages, according to the Ocala StarBanner.

56-year-old Gerald Antonio Palomba was arrested for the incident that happened in the area of County Road 42 and Belle Meade Circle.  He has been charged with DUI manslaughter and DUI with property damage.

The Florida Highway Patrol said Palomba was riding a motorcycle east on County Road 42 when he went through a red light at the intersection.  The driver of a northbound Chevy van, who had been stopped at the light, was proceeding forward with a green light when it was struck by the motorcycle.

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OCALA, FL – Police announced the arrest of an alleged drunk driver in connection with a fatal wreck that occurred in Ocala on Wednesday night.

WKMG reports the suspect was identified as 44-year-old Tiara Kirkland.  Ocala police said she was behind the wheel of a Chevrolet Spark heading south on North Pine Avenue at about 7:45 p.m.

Investigators learned that Kirkland turned into the path of a Toyota Scion and a Honda Civic which were both traveling north.

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Posted in: DUI Car Accidents
Tagged: Ocala
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OCALA, FL – Police said a teenager has been arrested on charges stemming from a fatal car accident in Ocala that occurred on Feb. 20.

In a news release, the Ocala Police Department said the 17-year-old suspect has been charged with DUI manslaughter and vehicular homicide in connection with the accident near the 1500 block of SE 36th Avenue.

Investigators said the teen driver was driving a Mercedes SUV at over 120 miles per hour moments before the wreck with no evidence of braking.  The Mercedes crashed into the back of a Mazda, causing it to strike a concrete utility pole.  The Mazda returned to the roadway, overturned and caught fire.

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Posted in: DUI Car Accidents
Tagged: Ocala
Updated:

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PASCO COUNTY, FL – One of the drivers involved in a fatal collision in Pasco County on Sunday night is facing charges, according to Pasco News Online.

Two vehicles and a motorcycle were involved in the crash, which occurred on State Road 52 near Pine Forest Drive.

The Florida Highway Patrol’s investigation determined that a Chrysler PT Cruiser was stopped in the travel lane of SR-52 after an accident with a Hyundai sedan.  A man riding a Harley Davidson motorcycle eastbound in the center lane crashed into the PT Cruiser.  The bike then went airborne into the inside lane and was hit by a Volkswagen Passat.

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A 41-year-old man from Marion County made an appearance in court on Wednesday to answer to charges related to the deaths of eight farm laborers who died in a bus accident on State Road 40 on Tuesday.

The man was charged with eight counts of DUI manslaughter after a 2001 Ford Ranger pickup truck he was reportedly driving crashed with a 2010 International bus carrying 53 migrant workers to a nearby farm shortly after 6:30 a.m.

According to the arrest report, the Ford pickup truck was headed east on State Road 40 while the bus was heading west.

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HERNANDO COUNTY, FL – Authorities announced an arrest in connection with a deadly collision in Hernando County in November 2023, Pasco News Online reports.

48-year-old Kristie Lynn Paxton of Hudson is charged with DUI manslaughter for the crash that occurred on Mariner Boulevard near Case Grande Circle.

According to the Florida Highway Patrol, Paxton was driving a 2005 Nissan Armada when she lost control of the vehicle.  The Nissan collided with a 2019 Toyota Tacoma, causing Paxton and her passenger to be ejected.

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CITRUS COUNTY, FL – The Florida Highway Patrol said a crash involving an alleged drunk driver left one person dead and another injured.

A report by WFLA states that the accident happened Sunday afternoon in Citrus County near the border with Marion County.

The FHP’s investigation determined that the driver of a Ford F-150 pickup truck was passing cars on the shoulder of North Carl G. Rose Parkway and then merged back into traffic, where the vehicle rear-ended a Honda Accord near East Spruce Drive. The impact sent the Honda across the roadway, causing it to hit a bridge rail at the Withlacoochee River and strike a second Ford F-150 pickup truck going north.

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CITRUS COUNTY, FL – Authorities said a motorcyclist was killed in a crash involving a suspected drunk driver in Citrus County on Sunday, WTVT reports.

The Florida Highway Patrol said the incident occurred in Floral City on Old Floral City Road near Evergreen Loop.  According to the FHP, the driver of a Dodge Caravan was headed south at about 4:38 p.m. when he crossed over the center line and struck a northbound Suzuki motorcycle.

The operator of the motorcycle, a 45-year-old man from Inverness, was pronounced dead at the scene.  The Dodge driver, identified as 27-year-old Tristen Alexander Melichar, was allegedly impaired at the time of the accident. He was arrested on a charge of DUI manslaughter and was taken to the Citrus County Jail.  Melichar was not injured in the crash.

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PORT RICHEY, FL – Police in Port Richey said a driver who may have been impaired was injured in a car wreck last week.

In a Facebook post, police said officers were called to the scene Dec. 1 at the intersection of US 19 and Grand Boulevard at about 1 a.m.

A preliminary investigation indicated a 24-year-old man was driving south on US 19 at high speed and lost control while trying to pass vehicles that had stopped at a red light.  The vehicle struck a curb near a gas station and crashed into a concrete pole, causing the vehicle to spin and roll over.

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SPRING HILL, FL – Three people were injured in a crash involving an alleged drunk driver in Hernando County on Monday, reports the Suncoast News. 

The Florida Highway Patrol released information on the accident that happened at the intersection of U.S. 19 and Breakwater Boulevard in Spring Hill.

According to the FHP, 72-year-old James Victor Cocchi of Spring Hill was driving a pickup truck north on U.S. 19 at 5:21 p.m. when he made a left turn at a traffic signal that was red.  The vehicle crashed into the left side of a marked Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission pickup truck headed south on U.S. 19.  Both vehicles came to rest in the intersection.

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Contact Information
MAIN OFFICE AND MAILING ADDRESS HERNANDO COUNTY
11020 Northcliffe Blvd
Spring Hill, FL 34608
Phone: 352-666-2121
Alt: 866-608-5LAW(5529)
Fax: 352-556-4839
Satellite Locations
PASCO
5318 Balsam St #A
New Port Richey, FL 34652
Phone: 727-847-2299
PINELLAS
5107 Central Ave
St. Petersburg, FL 33710
Phone: 727-823-0000
Fax: 727-898-2001
CITRUS COUNTY - INVERNESS
111 W Main St, #303
Inverness, FL 34450
Phone: 352-726-0078
CITRUS COUNTY - BEVERLY HILLS
5 William Tell Ln
Beverly Hills, FL 34465
Phone: 352-726-0078
LAKE-SUMTER
123 N Florida St
Bushnell, FL 33513
Phone: 352-793-9330
MARION-THE VILLAGES
510 Co Rd 466 #201W
The Villages, FL 32159
Phone: 352-369-5334
Fax: 352-556-4839
ALACHUA
5215 SW 91st Terrace
Gainesville, FL 32608
Phone: 352-264-7800
TAMPA - Hillsborough County
4401 W Kennedy Blvd #250
Tampa, FL 33609
Phone: 813-221-3200
PALM BEACH
3700 Airport Rd, #401
Boca Raton, FL 33431
Phone: 561-367-8777
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