The Villages

October 4, 2024

News: Man facing DUI charges for fatal accident in The Villages

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

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.

March 13, 2024

News: 2 injured in Villages golf cart accident involving alleged DUI driver

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

THE VILLAGES, FL – Two people were injured in a golf cart accident involving in the Villages earlier this month, authorities said.

According to the Villages News, the incident took place March 2 in the vicinity of Morse Boulevard and Colony Boulevard. The Florida Highway Patrol said 60-year-old Julianne Marie Janny was driving a golf cart about 9 p.m. when she took a curve too fast, causing the cart to overturn and land on its side. Two passengers were injured, though no details were released on their conditions.

Investigators said Janny, a resident of the Village of Lake Denham, showed indications of alcohol use including tests that that registered .210 and .193 blood alcohol content. She was charged with two counts of driving under the influence with injury to a person.

August 7, 2023

News: 1 injured after vehicle slams into pole at County Road 466A

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

SUMTER COUNTY, FL – One person was injured when a vehicle crashed near a shopping center in The Villages on Friday afternoon, the Villages-News reports.

The accident happened in the vicinity of County Road 466A and Heald Way near Colony Plaza. Authorities said a car struck a pole at that location at about 4:30 p.m. One person was transported by ambulance but there were no immediate details on the victim’s condition.

Eastbound lanes of Country Road 466A were shut down for about 90 minutes, disrupting traffic through the area.

July 14, 2023

Man charged with drunk driving in golf cart crash in The Villages

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

SUMTER COUNTY, FL – The Florida Highway Patrol said a man was arrested for a golf cart accident in Sumter County on July 4th, according to the Villages News.

The crash happened in the area of Pinellas Place and Buena Vista Boulevard at about 9 p.m. The FHP said 63-year-old Marc James D’eon of the Village of St. John’s was driving a Yamaha golf court when he crashed into some hedges. A passenger in the cart was injured and taken to UF Health-Leesburg Hospital.

Following field sobriety exercises and a blood alcohol test, D’eon was arrested on a charge of driving under the influence. He was booked at the Sumter County Detention Center and released after posting $1,000 bond.

May 29, 2023

News: Multi-vehicle crash in The Villages sends 2 drivers to hospital

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

THE VILLAGES, FL – Two drivers were sent to the hospital following a collision in The Villages on Wednesday afternoon, the Villages-News reports.

Authorities responded to the scene in the area of County Road 466 and Belvedere Boulevard near The Villages Charter School.

According to Florida Highway Patrol investigators, an 86-year-old man was driving a Chevy Impala northbound shortly before 1 p.m. when he crashed into the back of a Hyundai Sonata. The impact pushed the Hyundai into the intersection, where it collided with a Chevy Tahoe. The Impala also struck the Tahoe.

May 4, 2023

News: Man under arrest for hit-and-run crash in The Villages

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

THE VILLAGES, FL – A man was arrested in connection with a hit-and-run accident in the Villages Monday afternoon.

According to Villages-News.com, the crash happened in the vicinity of State Road 44 and Powell Road in Wildwood. Police said the driver of a Mazda 3, identified as 36-year-old Mark Regan of Pennsylvania, struck the back of a trailer being towed by a truck at about 3 p.m.

The truck driver said Regan pulled into the median after the crash but did not try to exchange information and suddenly left the scene heading west on State Road 44.

April 13, 2023

News: Woman fatally struck by her own SUV on street in the Villages

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

SUMTER COUNTY, FL – The Florida Highway Patrol said a woman died following an accident involving her vehicle in Sumter County Saturday afternoon.

According to WTSP, the incident happened on Fringe Tree Trail near Knotty Pine Terrace in the Villages shortly before 4 p.m. The FHP said a 62-year-old woman driving a sport utility vehicle had backed out of a driveway and crashed into a vehicle that was parked on the opposite road of the road.

The woman then pulled back into the driveway to check on the damage and got out of her SUV but reportedly did not shift the vehicle into park, according to state troopers. The SUV ran over the woman and she was killed. The victim’s identity was not immediately released.

January 10, 2023

News: Leesburg man arrested in hit-and-run that killed motorcyclist

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

LEESBURG, FL – A Leesburg man is facing charges over a fatal hit-and-run incident that occurred last month, according to the Villages-News.

59-year-old Lloyd Douglas Walters has been charged with leaving the scene of a crash, driving under the influence manslaughter, and no valid driver’s license.

Authorities said Walters was driving a Jeep Grand Cherokee west on State Road 44 near Morse Boulevard when he changed lanes and collided with a westbound Suzuki motorcycle.

December 21, 2022

News: Collision on County Road 466 in The Villages leaves 1 dead, 3 seriously injured

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

SUMTER COUNTY, FL – The Florida Highway Patrol said three vehicles were involved in a deadly collision in the Villages on Monday night, WKMG reports.

The crash took place on County Road 466 near Buena Vista Boulevard at about 10 p.m. The FHP said the driver of a sedan was headed west on the roadway and did not stop at a red light. The sedan crashed into another vehicle at the intersection and both vehicles hit a sign, with one of them colliding with a third vehicle.

The driver of the second vehicle was pronounced dead at the scene. He was a 27-year-old man from Wildwood, troopers said. A 22-year-old Leesburg woman who was his passenger was seriously injured.

November 2, 2022

News: 2 hurt in crash after driver runs red light near Brownwood, police say

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

WILDWOOD, FL – Police in Wildwood said two drivers were hospitalized following a collision that occurred on Saturday morning.

According to the Villages-News, the incident happened in the area of Meggison Road and State Road 44 near Brownwood at 7:12 a.m. Investigators determined that 56-year-old Judith Anne Cervini was behind the wheel of a Kia Optima heading north on Meggison Road and went through a red light. The Kia struck the front of a Mazda Miata that had the green light while going west on State Road 44.

Cervini was taken to UF Health-Leesburg Hospital while the driver of the Mazda, 63-year-old Julia Ann Von Ah of the VIllage of Chitty Chatty, was transported to UF Health-The Villages Hospital freestanding Emergency Room at Brownwood. Both drivers had head and neck pain.