LEESBURG, Florida—An ATV crash has killed at least one person Saturday afternoon, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
Troopers are investigating the crash at Veech Road and Pruitt Street that occurred around 5:20 p.m., FHP Lt. Channing Taylor said in an email; no other information has been released. There is a roadblock in the area.
This is a developing story.
Troopers Investigating Fatal ATV Crash Near Leesburg Read More »
HOWEY-IN-THE-HILLS, Florida—The crash that shut down the southbound lanes of Florida’s Turnpike most of the day Friday resulted in the deaths of two people, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
At 7:15 a.m. Friday, a 2020 Toyota Corolla being driven by a 23-year-old Tallahassee woman was traveling southbound on Florida’s Turnpike in the inside lane near mile marker 286 when she failed to stop for traffic ahead. She rear-ended a 2022 Chevrolet Equinox being driven by a 69-year-old Ocala man. The Chevrolet left the roadway and the right rear of the Chevrolet struck the left rear of a 2014 Jeep Cherokee being driven by a 67-year-old woman of Port Richey, FHP Lt. Tara Crescenzi said.
The Chevrolet then struck a guardrail, rotated and struck a Dodge Ram 2500 head-on being driven by a 31-year-old Inverness man; the Chevrolet continued southbound and became wedged underneath the trailer of a 2018 tractor-trailer being driven by a 35-year-old Dunnellon man. The driver of the Chevrolet and his passenger, a 68-year-old Ocala woman, were both pronounced deceased on the scene.
After the initial impact between the Toyota and the Chevrolet, the Toyota rotated and struck a 2020 tractor-trailer being driven by a 34-year-old Anthony man. The Toyota became engulfed in flames, Crescenzi said.
The driver of the Toyota and the Jeep were transported to a local hospital with minor injuries; the driver and passenger of the Dodge and the drivers of the two tractor-trailers were not injured. Everyone involved in the crash stayed on scene and the crash remains under investigation, Crescenzi said.
2 Killed in 6-Vehicle Crash on Turnpike Friday Morning Read More »
LEESBURG, Florida—A 41-year-old Groveland man was killed Thursday night while walking in the southbound lane of County Road 473 near Lake Drive, according to Florida Highway Patrol Lt. Tara Crescenzi.
Shortly after 10:30 p.m., a 2012 GMC Acadia being driven by a 38-year-old Leesburg man was traveling southbound on County Road 473 when it struck the Groveland man, killing him. The Leesburg man told troopers he did not see the man walking in his lane, Crescenzi said in a press release.
The Groveland man was pronounced deceased on the scene and the Leesburg man suffered minor injuries. The crash remains under investigation.
Pedestrian Killed on CR 473 Near Leesburg Late Thursday Night Read More »
CLERMONT, Florida—A woman who police say kept a loaner vehicle for more than a month, turned herself in at the Lake County Jail Thursday on a warrant for failure to redeliver a hired vehicle, according to an arrest affidavit.
Tamera Shania Pollard, 26, of Leesburg, dropped off her vehicle, a silver 2014 Mazda 6 for service at Headquarter Mazda, 17500 State Road 50, Clermont, and was given a white 2022 Mazda CX-30 as a loaner vehicle on July 15, 2022, a representative of the dealership told Clermont Police Department on Aug. 19, 2022.
Pollard failed to return the vehicle and the dealership attempted to contact her by phone, email and certified mail to no avail. The crossover SUV was entered as stolen and on Aug. 21, 2022 it was pulled over by the Lake County Sheriff’s Office. Pollard was in the vehicle, but she was not arrested and the SUV was impounded. The LCSO deputy told CPD he did not arrest Pollard because she was cooperative and he did not see a warrant for her arrest.
The following day Pollard called the dealership to inquire about her vehicle she had dropped off for service more than a month prior, but it is unclear in the affidavit whether Pollard ever picked the car up.
A warrant was issued for Pollard on Aug. 24, 2022, and she turned herself in Thursday at LCJ, where she was released on $5,000 bond.
Leesburg Woman Accused of Keeping Loaner SUV for More than a Month Read More »
LEESBURG, Florida—Two people are dead following a multivehicle crash that shut down the southbound lanes of Florida’s Turnpike, according to Florida Highway Patrol Lt. Channing Taylor.
The crash involves four passenger vehicles and two tractor-trailers and two people were pronounced dead at the scene, Taylor said.
Southbound traffic is being diverted at mile marker 289 and travelers should expect heavy traffic and delays for several hours, according to Taylor.
GROVELAND, Florida—The young man killed in the head-on crash with a semi on State Road 33 in Groveland Wednesday has been identified as a Polk County detention deputy, by the Polk County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO.)
Drake Sawyer Perry, 22, of Ocoee, was driving a 2014 Mazda 3 northbound on State Road 33 near Double H Lane when he veered into the southbound lane and struck a 2014 Volvo semi-truck head-on being driven by a 32-year-old man from Duluth, Georgia at 11:20 a.m. Wednesday. The semi then hit the rear left of a 2018 Hyundai Elantra, being driven by a 34-year-old Clermont woman, according to Florida Highway Patrol Lt. Tara Crescenzi.
Perry was pronounced dead on the scene and the driver of the truck was transported to Orlando Health South Lake Hospital in Clermont with serious injuries. The Clermont woman and her passenger were not injured, Crescenzi said.
Perry was dual-certified as a detention deputy and law enforcement officer and began working for PCSO in December 2022. He was off-duty at the time of the crash.
“We are all grieving at the loss of this young deputy who was just starting out in his career. Deputy Perry was an outstanding cadet in the academy, and his classmates and coworkers remember him as always smiling, always positive, and a team player who was always helping others. He was a natural born leader and aspired to be on the SWAT team. He will be greatly missed. Please keep his family in your prayers,” PCSO Sheriff Grady Judd said in a statement.
The crash remains under investigation.
Polk County Detention Deputy Killed in Groveland Crash Wednesday Read More »
GROVELAND, Florida—Two major roads were shut down Wednesday as both Groveland Police Department and the Florida Highway Patrol simultaneously worked traffic crashes.
GPD shut down State Road 19 between Bible Camp Road and Laviance Boulevard due to a crash at State 19 and Cherry Lake Road around 2:30 p.m. Wednesday. Cherry Lake Road was also shut down at Cherry Lake Landing, according to a GPD social media post. No other details were available at press time.
FHP shut down State Road 33 north of Double H Lane following a fatal crash that occurred at 11:20 a.m. Wednesday. A man driving a 2014 Mazda 3 entered the southbound lane of State Road 33 and hit a 2014 Volvo semi-truck head-on. The semi, being driven by a 32-year-old man from Duluth, Georgia, then hit a 2018 Hyundai Elantra, being driven by a 34-year-old Clermont woman, according to FHP Lt. Tara Crescenzi.
The driver of the Mazda was pronounced dead on the scene and troopers were attempting to locate his next of kin, Crescenzi said. The driver of the semi was transported to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, and the Clermont woman was not injured.
Both crash scenes are active investigations.
Separate Crashes Shut Down 2 Major Roads in Groveland Wednesday Read More »
SUMTER COUNTY, Florida—A motorcyclist was ejected from his motorcycle and killed Wednesday morning after a sedan rear-ended him on State Road 44 near County Road 44A in Sumter County, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
The 65-year-old motorcyclist of Bushnell, was westbound on State Road 44, when a sedan being driven by a 44-year-old man of The Villages, “overtook and collided with the rear of the motorcycle,” shortly before 6 a.m. Wednesday, FHP Sgt. Steve Gaskins said in a press release.
The motorcyclist was ejected and suffered fatal injuries; the driver of the sedan was not injured, Gaskins said.
Bushnell Motorcyclist Killed in Crash With Villager Read More »
LEESBURG, Florida— The man found in Lake Griffin Tuesday has been identified, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC.)
Around 4:45 p.m. Tuesday, the Lake County Sheriff’s Office reported finding an empty boat on Lake Griffin near Herlong Park in Leesburg, FWC Public Information Officer Chad Weber told Inside Lake.
FWC responded to the scene and the body of an adult male was found in the water nearby where the empty boat was found, and Leesburg Fire Rescue recovered the body of Thomas G. Eichelberger, 80. Eichelberger was brought to the boat ramp, where he was pronounced deceased and then turned over to the medical examiner.
“This is an active investigation and there is no further information at this time,” Weber said. “Our thoughts and deepest sympathies are with the friends and family of Mr. Eichelberger.”
FWC Releases Name of Man Found in Lake Griffin Tuesday Read More »
LEESBURG, Florida—The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is investigating after the body of an adult male was found near an unmanned boat around 4:45 p.m. Tuesday, FWC Public Information Officer Chad Weber told Inside Lake.
The name of the man has not been released pending notification of his next of kin, Weber said. There was no obvious cause of death, and the man was turned over to the medical examiner.
Weber responded to the scene along with Leesburg Police Department and the Lake County Sheriff’s Office marine unit.
“It’s an active investigation,” Weber said, and an update is expected Wednesday morning, he told Inside Lake.
Body, Unmanned Boat Found in Lake Griffin Tuesday, FWC Investigating Read More »
