CITRUS COUNTY, FL – A motorcyclist was injured in a collision with a Citrus County Sheriff’s Office vehicle on Wednesday morning, according to the Citrus County Chronicle.
The rider was part of an escort brigade for the traveling Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall Procession. The incident happened as the brigade was heading towards a Harley Davidson facility on U.S. 19/98 in Homosassa Springs.
The sheriff’s office said that as the escort reached West Homosassa Trail in Lecanto at about 9:45 a.m., one of the motorcyclists hit a Public Service Officer vehicle with the sheriff’s office.
MARION COUNTY, FL – State troopers said a Marion County sanitation worker was killed in an accident on Tuesday morning, according to WKMG.
It happened as the worker was loading garbage within the Spruce Creek subdivision on Southeast 108th Terrace.
The Florida Highway Patrol said the man was hit by a tire from the garbage truck at about 9 a.m. The worker, a 25-year-old Ocala man, was pronounced dead by Marion County Fire Rescue.
As we travel the busy roads and highways of our daily commute, it is easy to ignore the many construction crews and infrastructure projects that maintain safety and function on our Florida roadways. Work zone accidents claim hundreds of lives each year, highlighting the urgent need for increased knowledge and safety precautions.
Work Zone Awareness Week, recognized by the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) in conjunction with numerous other transportation partners, construction crews, and law enforcement agencies, serves as a real reminder of the people behind the orange cones and flashing lights. According to FDOT data, there were 277 major injuries and 293 fatalities in construction zones throughout the state between 2020 and 2023. Work Zone Awareness Week takes place this year from April 15-19 and aims to inform and increase awareness about the significance of safe driving practices in and near work zones.
FDOT will experience Work Zone Awareness Week differently this year, since a team member died in January after being killed by a driver while putting up a work zone. This tragic loss to the FDOT team serves as a sharp reminder of the hazards crews face when carrying out their job duties despite the risks involved, and that safety on our roads is everyone’s responsibility.
Work zones are dynamic areas in which workers are frequently within a few feet from fast-moving traffic. The mix of heavy machinery, unexpected road conditions, and distracted drivers can lead to disaster. More than half of these crashes between 2020 and 2023 were caused by front-to-rear impact collisions, underscoring the importance of being alert when driving through a work zone, particularly when it calls for frequent stops and slowed traffic to protect workers and other road users.
Encouraging Safety in Work Zones
Ensuring the safety of all road users, specifically construction workers, is a critical responsibility of drivers. We may reduce the risks connected with work zones by being alert, patient, and compliant with traffic laws. The following are some vital pointers to remember:
Reduce your speed and focus
It is crucial to slow down and remain vigilant when entering a work zone. Maintain a safe distance behind the car in front of you, and be ready for lane closures or abrupt stops. 2. Pay attention to instructions and signs
Observe signage carefully, and heed any instructions given by flaggers or construction workers. Ignoring warnings or attempting to navigate around barriers can endanger lives.
Merge early and stay in your lane
In order to prevent last-minute maneuvers, merge into the proper lane well before you reach the work zone. Changing lanes in a work zone can be confusing and elevate the risk of collisions. 4. Eliminate distractions
Put your phone away, avoid eating and drinking, and concentrate entirely on the task of driving. In a work zone, minor diversions could result in significant consequences.
Be patient
Though delays and other inconveniences are fleeting, driving recklessly can have long-lasting consequences. Be patient, and show respect to other drivers and construction workers.
The nature of road construction work can be hazardous, but drivers can contribute to making it safer for everyone by keeping an eye out for changing traffic patterns, driving attentively, obeying work zone speed limits, avoiding all distractions, and keeping a safe distance from other vehicles. Responsible driving behaviors by everyone can ensure that we all get home safe. Continue reading
LAKE COUNTY, FL – The Florida Highway Patrol said an accident in Lake County late Monday night claimed the life of a teenage pedestrian.
According to a report by the Leesburg News, the incident took place on U.S. Highway 27 in Clermont shortly before midnight.
The FHP stated that an 18-year-old male was walking across the northbound lanes of the highway near Lake Louisa Road and was struck by a northbound 2010 Acura RDX SUV. The pedestrian, a Kissimmee resident, died at the scene.
MARION COUNTY, FL – A Marion County school bus was struck from behind by a vehicle on County Road 326 on Thursday morning, WKMG reports.
The Florida Highway Patrol said the bus was heading east at about 9 a.m. when the driver slowed down for a bus stop ahead of it just east of County Road 225A.
The driver of an eastbound Mercedes Benz failed to slow down or stop and crashed into the rear of the bus. 50 students were on board at the time. The students were evaluated at the scene for minor complaints, but no one had to go to the hospital.
It can be extremely stressful to be a passenger in an automobile accident. It is critical to understand what to do in the aftermath to make sure you get the care you need, safeguard your legal rights, and get justly compensated for your injuries.
Get Medical Care Right Away
The first and most important action after suffering injuries in an automobile accident as a passenger is to seek emergency medical care. It is vital to have your condition assessed by a medical professional, even if you think your injuries are insignificant. Certain injuries may not present themselves right away, but once the adrenaline has worn off from your accident, your condition may worsen.
ODESSA, FL – The Florida Highway Patrol said a man riding a motorcycle was killed in a collision in Pasco County on Tuesday night.
The Tampa Free Press reports the incident occurred at the intersection of State Road 54 and Fencepost Drive at about 9 p.m.
The FHP’s investigation determined that the operator of a Harley Davidson motorcycle was heading west on SR-54 when he stopped at Fencepost Drive for an oncoming fire truck that was responding to a service call.
HERNANDO COUNTY, FL – Hernando County Fire Rescue responded to the scene of a vehicle crash with multiple injuries on Tuesday afternoon.
According to a Facebook post by HCFR at 4:16 p.m., rescue crews were dispatched to the area of Cortez Boulevard and Burwell Road.
Three patients were transported by helicopter to local trauma centers. Three additional patients were transported by ground. No details were released on the severity of their injuries, or the circumstances that led to the crash.
Distracted driving is a deadly roadway problem. An even bigger problem is when drivers of big rigs get distracted from using their phones, adjusting radio dials, reaching for things they dropped, or eating and drinking. Driving distracted wastes seconds that you could use to avert a close call or a fatal crash.
Research from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), shows that the odds of a texting truck driver getting into a crash or near-crash are 23.2 times higher than truck drivers who do not text.
DADE CITY, FL – One person died and four others were hospitalized following a multi-vehicle crash in Pasco County Monday afternoon, according to Pasco News Online.
The Florida Highway Patrol said the driver of a Mercedes C300 was going north on US-301 north of Rapid River Boulevard when she crossed into the southbound lane. The Mercedes crashed into a southbound Isuzu truck head-on, causing it to rotate into the path of a Toyota 4Runner going north.
The Toyota driver, a 19-year-old man from Dade City, died at the scene. The driver of the Mercedes, a 39-year-old Zephyrhills woman, the driver of the Isuzu, a 61-year-old Zephyrhills man, and two passengers in the Isuzu, 19-year-old men from Plant City and Thonotosassa, were all transported to area hospitals. None of their injuries were life-threatening.
