ASTATULA, Florida—A Howey-in-the-Hills man was killed Wednesday afternoon after he lost control of the 2018 CH-R he was driving, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
The man was traveling eastbound on County Road 48 near Ranch Road shortly after 12:30 p.m. when he lost control and began to hydroplane on the wet road as rain moved in before Hurricane Ian. The Chevy entered the westbound lane of County Road 48 and hit a 2020 Ford F-150 head-on.
“This impact caused vehicle 1 and vehicle 2 to exit the roadway and collide with the guardrail,” FHP Lt. Tara Crescenzi said in a press release.
The driver of the Chevy was pronounced dead on the scene and the driver of the Ford, a 36-year-old Howey-in-the Hills man, was transported to South Lake Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, Crescenzi said.
The crash closed County Road 48 between Ranch Road and Laylaine Drive, and it remained closed at press time.
Law enforcement agencies are urging residents to shelter in place and stay off the road.
