GROVELAND, Fla.— An attempt to pass in a no-passing zone killed two South Lake County teens Saturday night, shutting down a major road, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
Shortly after 6 p.m., a 16-year-old Groveland girl was driving a 2008 Toyota Scion southbound on State Road 33 when she attempted to pass a vehicle in a no-passing zone near Groveland Farms Road.
She entered the northbound lane when she apparently saw a 2021 Lincoln Aviator traveling northbound. She swerved back into the southbound lane, lost control, rotated and again entered the northbound lane, FHP said.
The Lincoln struck the right side of the Toyota, causing it to overturn. The 16-year-old driver, and her passenger, a 17-year-old Clermont boy, were pronounced deceased on the scene. Both teens were wearing their seatbelts.
Four people, all of Lakeland, were in the Lincoln and transported to area hospitals for treatment. The driver, a 75-year-old man, and two of his passengers, a 66-year-old woman and a 5-year-old boy, all suffered minor injuries. A third passenger, a 6-year-old girl, was seriously injured; all of the occupants of the Lincoln were wearing their seatbelts.
State Road 33 remained closed at press time Saturday night, while troopers continued their investigation, more than five hours after the crash.
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