Florida Personal Injury Lawyers Blog

October 23, 2023

News: Bicyclist fatally struck by Marion County Sheriff’s Office vehicle

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

GAINESVILLE, FL – The Florida Highway Patrol said a man riding a bicycle was struck and killed early Wednesday morning by a Marion County Sheriff’s deputy’s vehicle, according to the Ocala Star-Banner.

The accident happened on State Road 200 just east of SW 80 Avenue just before 3:30 a.m.

The FHP said the bicyclist and the marked sheriff’s SUV were both going east on the roadway. The deputy did not see the bicyclist and struck the bike from behind. The rider, a 63-year-old Gainesville man, was pronounced dead at the scene. The deputy stopped after the incident.

October 20, 2023

News: Driver sought in fatal pedestrian crash in Brooksville

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

BROOKSVILLE, FL – Authorities are searching for the driver responsible for the death of a pedestrian in Hernando County on Monday night, WTVT reports.

The incident occurred in the area of Jacqueline Road and West Mariner Boulevard at about 9:30 p.m. The Florida Highway Patrol said a man was pushing a shopping cart in the travel lane of West Mariner Boulevard when he was hit by an eastbound 2004 Ford F-150 pickup truck.

The victim, a 38-year-old man from New Port Richey, was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver involved fled the scene after the incident, state troopers said, and later abandoned the pickup on Star Road.

October 19, 2023

News: Lady Lake man dies following rollover crash on Florida Turnpike

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

LAKE COUNTY, FL – A single-vehicle accident in Lake County early Tuesday morning left the driver dead, reports the Villages-News.

According to the Florida Highway Patrol, the victim was a 26-year-old man from Lady Lake. State troopers said he was driving a 2012 Ford Escape on the Florida Turnpike at about 3:30 a.m. when he went off the right shoulder of the roadway near mile marker 286 in the vicinity of U.S. 27.

The vehicle overturned multiple times and the driver was ejected. He was pronounced dead at the scene. The man was not wearing his seat belt at the time, the FHP said.

October 18, 2023

News: Passenger killed when stolen car hits utility pole in Dade City

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

DADE CITY, FL – The Florida Highway Patrol said a stolen vehicle was involved in a fatal crash in Pasco County on Saturday morning, Patch New Port Richey reports.

The incident occurred in Dade City, in the 33600 block of Clinton Avenue. The FHP said a man was driving a Ford pickup truck believed to have been stolen from Zephyrhills. As he headed east on Clinton Avenue at about 8:40 a.m, the pickup went onto the south shoulder, hit a utility pole, struck a fence and then overturned.

A passenger in the vehicle, a 30-year-old woman from Lakeland, was taken to an area hospital where she was pronounced dead. The driver, believed to be a 40-year-old Lakeland man, fled the scene on foot.

October 17, 2023

News: Leesburg man dies after being hit by car on County Road 44

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

LEESBURG, FL – The Florida Highway Patrol was called to the scene of a fatal pedestrian accident in Lake County on Friday night, WKMG reports.

According to the FHP, the victim was a 47-year-old man who was trying to walk across County Road 44 near Rhett Road. The pedestrian was struck at about 9:20 p.m. by a 2019 Chrysler 300 that was going east on CR-44. The victim, a Leesburg resident whose name was not released, was pronounced dead at the scene. Investigators said he was not in a marked crosswalk at the time of the collision.

The driver and a passenger in the Chrysler were not injured, and stayed at the crash scene. State troopers are continuing their investigation into the incident.

October 16, 2023

News: Woman charged with leaving scene after hitting pedestrian in Gainesville

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

GAINESVILLE, FL – Gainesville police announced an arrest in the case of a pedestrian who was struck by a car near the University of Florida.

According to the Gainesville Sun, 73-year-old Betty Jean Alexander-Bacon of Lake Butler faces a felony charge for a hit-and-run.

Authorities said Alexander-Bacon was driving at around midnight on Thursday when she struck the pedestrian who was crossing the street in the 1300 block of West University Avenue. The victim was taken to UF Health Shands Hospital for treatment. No details were immediately released on the person’s condition.

October 13, 2023

News: 3 injured when car collides with semi at US 41 intersection

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

HERNANDO COUNTY, FL – Hernando County Fire Rescue crews were called to the scene of a collision on Wednesday evening.

HCFR posted details of the incident that occurred at the intersection of US 41 and Lake Lindsey Road at about 5 p.m.

A car collided with a semi-truck and the semi overturned off the roadway. The truck destroyed a power pole, causing live wires to fall across US 41. Three people sustained minor injuries and were taken to an area hospital.

October 12, 2023

News: Man facing DUI charge after crashing into FWC truck on US-19

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

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.

October 11, 2023

News: Woman struck and killed by pickup truck in Hernando County

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

HERNANDO COUNTY, FL – The Florida Highway Patrol responded to the scene of a fatal pedestrian accident in Hernando County Monday morning.

A report by the Hernando Sun states that the incident happened at the intersection of US-41 and Spring Hill Drive in Spring Hill. According to the FHP, a woman was walking eastbound across US-41 shortly before 7 a.m. when she entered the path of a northbound Toyota Tacoma pickup truck and was hit by the vehicle.

The woman, a 40-year-old St. Petersburg resident, died after being taken to an area hospital. The pickup truck driver was a 25-year-old man from Brooksville.

October 10, 2023

News: Pickup truck crash on Florida Turnpike in Clermont leaves 2 dead

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

CLERMONT, FL – An accident involving a pickup truck in Lake County on Saturday afternoon left two people dead, WKMG reports.

The Florida Highway Patrol said the incident happened along the Florida Turnpike near mile marker 280 in Clermont. According to the FHP, the driver of a 2001 Chevrolet Silverado was going south in a construction zone at about 2:30 p.m. when the vehicle went off the roadway and onto the right shoulder.

The pickup then collided with a concrete storm drain box and overturned. The driver and a back-seat passenger were pronounced dead at the scene. A passenger in the front seat was seriously injured and taken to an area hospital.