PHOTO: Florida Highway Patrol

Minneola woman killed after SUV catches fire in Sumter County crash

Inside Scoop, Minneola | By Marilyn M. Aciego | June 30, 2026 | Crash, Fatality, FHP, Florida, Lake County, Minneola | 1 minute of reading

SUMTER COUNTY, Fla. — A 21-year-old Minneola woman was killed in a fiery crash early Tuesday morning in Sumter County, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

The woman was driving a Mazda CX-9 westbound on County Road 478 when she failed to negotiate a curve west of County Road 747, around 4 a.m., troopers said.

The SUV traveled off the roadway, struck a fence and then collided with a tree and caught fire.

The driver suffered fatal injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene, FHP said.

The crash remains under investigation.

About The Author

Marilyn M. Aciego

Marilyn M. Aciego is the Publisher of Inside Lake and a veteran journalist with more than two decades of experience covering Lake County. Born and raised locally, she is a graduate of Umatilla High School and Lake-Sumter State College, where her journalism career began. Marilyn has reported on some of the area’s most high-profile and impactful stories, including the disappearance of Trenton Duckett, the death of Sheriff Chris Daniels, and the murders of Jamaria Sessions, Master Deputy Bradley Link and Xavier Williams. Her work is known for exclusive sourcing, public records expertise, and a willingness to ask uncomfortable questions. In 2023, she was honored with Lake-Sumter State College’s Distinguished Alumni Professional Achievement Award. In 2024, Marilyn was the first to break two major Lake County public safety stories, reinforcing Inside Lake as a trusted source for timely, independent, and community-focused reporting. In addition to publishing Inside Lake, Marilyn serves as the Florida Bureau Chief for an international media organization. She has an adult son she raised in the same community she reports on every day.

About The Author

Marilyn M. Aciego

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