Citrus County

February 28, 2024

News: Head-on collision in Citrus County kills both drivers

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

CITRUS COUNTY, FL – The Florida Highway Patrol said two men died when their vehicles collided head-on in Citrus County last week.

The Citrus County Chronicle reports the accident happened Feb. 21 on South Rock Crusher Road at about 6:55 p.m. According to state troopers, the driver of a northbound Hyundai Santa Fe crossed over the center line just north of West Minuteman Street. The vehicle crashed into a southbound Pontiac G6.

The driver of the Pontiac, a 63-year-old man from Crystal River, was pronounced dead at the scene. The Hyundai driver, a 38-year-old Crystal River man, was pronounced dead after being taken to an area hospital.

February 7, 2024

News: Alleged drunk driver charged in fatal Citrus County accident

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

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.

January 3, 2024

News: Man arrested on DWI charge after crash kills motorcyclist in Citrus County

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

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.

December 25, 2023

News: 1 dead, 2 injured following collision on Citrus County highway

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

BEVERLY HILLS, Fla. – A crash in Citrus County Thursday night left one person dead and two others injured, according to WTVT.

The accident, which involved a motorcycle and an SUV, happened near the intersection of Norvell Bryant Highway and West Pine Ridge Boulevard at about 7:30 p.m.

The Florida Highway Patrol said the driver of a Chevy Equinox was going east on Norvell Bryant Highway and turned into the path of a westbound Harley Davidson motorcycle, resulting in a collision.

December 11, 2023

News: 3 people dead following head-on collision on Citrus Avenue

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

CITRUS COUNTY, FL – The Florida Highway Patrol said three people died following a car wreck in Citrus County on Saturday evening.

The Citrus County Chronicle reports the incident occurred on Citrus Avenue near West Marquette Lane at 6:55 p.m.

According to the FHP’s investigation, the driver of a Toyota Tundra was going south on Citrus Avenue and lost control of the vehicle, crossing over the center line. The vehicle collided with a 2011 Buick Regal nearly head-on.

October 24, 2023

News: Citrus County woman killed in car crash on US 41

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

CITRUS SPRINGS, Fla. – A single-vehicle crash claimed the life of a Citrus County woman last week, WTVT reports.

The Florida Highway Patrol released details of the incident, which happened Monday night on US 41 near Citrus Springs Boulevard. State troopers said the driver of a Jeep Patriot was traveling south on the roadway just before 11:45 p.m. when she lost control of the vehicle and veered onto the west shoulder. When the driver overcorrected, the vehicle went back across US 41 and onto the east shoulder, where it collided with a tree.

The driver, a 42-year-old Citrus Springs woman, was pronounced dead at the scene. Her identity was not immediately released.

September 19, 2023

News: Driver killed when vehicle crashes, overturns in Citrus County

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

CITRUS COUNTY, FL – A driver was killed when his vehicle crashed in Citrus County early Saturday morning, the Florida Highway Patrol said.

According to WFTS, the victim was a 29-year-old man from Lecanto. The FHP said he was driving east on State Road 44 when he lost control of the vehicle near West Homosassa Trail at about 2:20 a.m.

The vehicle went over the grass median, overturned across the westbound lanes of State Road 44 and then ended up on the north shoulder of the road. The driver, whose name was not released, died of his injuries.

July 19, 2023

News: Man killed in crash while trying to flee Citrus County traffic stop

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

CITRUS COUNTY, FL – The Florida Highway Patrol said a man trying to evade law enforcement authorities was killed in a crash in Citrus County early Saturday morning.

According to WKMG, a deputy attempted a traffic stop on the driver of a Jeep Cherokee who was headed west on State Road 44 through Inverness sometime before 1:30 a.m. The FHP said the man drove away at a high rate of speed.

After deputies deployed stop sticks on County Road 491, the driver of the Jeep drove over the sticks, continued on and crossed the median of SR-44 near W Crystal Oaks Drive. The vehicle then hit a light post and a concrete wall before catching fire.

July 5, 2023

News: Citrus County man killed when car collides with golf cart

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

CITRUS COUNTY, FL – The Florida Highway Patrol said a car and a golf cart were involved in a fatal collision in Citrus County.

A report by WTVT states the accident took place Friday afternoon on West Fenway Drive near Lake Marie Terrace.

The FHP said a Nissan Rogue and a golf cart were both heading south, with the cart traveling in the bicycle lane. The driver of the Nissan Rogue, a 48-year-old man, passed the golf cart and slowed down to make a turn onto North Lake Marie Terrace, investigators said.

June 20, 2023

News: Rollover car wreck in Citrus County leaves 1 dead, 3 injured

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

CITRUS COUNTY, FL – A teenage driver was killed and three other people were injured when their vehicle crashed in Citrus County on Saturday afternoon, according to WTVT.

The accident happened on West Fort Island Trail west of North Seabreeze Point. The Florida Highway Patrol said a 16-year-old boy was driving a Jeep Cherokee eastbound with three passengers when he lost control of the vehicle while going along a curve. The Jeep went off the roadway and overturned multiple times.

The driver and his 7-year-old brother were both thrown from the SUV. The driver was pronounced dead at the scene while the young boy was seriously injured.