TAVARES, Florida—Two people are in critical, but stable condition following a wreck that shut down U.S. Highway 441 for more than four hours Wednesday.
Just before 2:10 p.m. Tavares Police Department responded to multiple 9-1-1 calls reporting a crash near AdventHealth Waterman. The preliminary investigation revealed Carol Murphy, 77, was driving a silver 2013 Hyundai southbound on U.S. Highway 441 when she turned left on Waterman Way and was struck by a silver 2014 Ford Mustang being driven by a 17-year-old male who was traveling northbound on U.S. Highway 441, according to TPD Public Information Officer Courtney Sullivan.
The front of the Mustang struck the front side of the Hyundai, causing the Hyundai to rotate and the Mustang to go airborne, hit a SECO electrical box and overturn; the Mustang became engulfed in flames. Both drivers were transported to a local trauma center in critical condition, but are now stable, Sullivan said.
SECO, the Florida Department of Transportation, Lake EMS and multiple fire departments responded to the scene, along with TPD traffic homicide investigators.
In the last two weeks, just one TPD road patrol shift has written 63 traffic citations to educate drivers and battle careless driving, Sullivan said.
