CLERMONT, Fla.—The Florida Highway Patrol is searching for an SUV that hit and killed an Auburndale man Monday near Clermont and fled the scene.
A tow truck was stopped partially in the outside southbound lane and shoulder, assisting a driver with a disabled vehicle. The driver of the vehicle, a 37-year-old Auburndale man, was standing in the outside southbound lane of U.S. Highway 27 waving traffic around his disabled vehicle, the tow truck and its driver, near the Sienna Ridge community shortly before 7 p.m., according to FHP.
An unidentified white SUV was traveling southbound on U.S. Highway 27, failed to move over and struck the Auburndale man, propelling him into the driver’s side mirror of the tow truck. The unidentified vehicle turned right onto Margaux Drive, hit a rock in the median and then fled southbound on U.S. Highway 27. The Auburndale man was pronounced deceased on the scene.
A witness told troopers the SUV was a white Kia Soul with an Indiana license plate. If you have information on the crash, call FHP at 407-737-2213 or Crimeline at 1-800-423-TIPS.
January marks the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles’ annual “Move Over” Public Safety Campaign, promoting roadside safety awareness. “Florida law requires you to “Move Over” a lane, when you can safely do so, for stopped law enforcement, emergency, sanitation, utility service vehicles, tow trucks or wreckers, maintenance or construction vehicles with displaying warning lights, and any disabled vehicle on the side of the road. If you can’t move over, or when on a two-lane road, slow to a speed that is 20 miles per hour less than the posted speed limit,” said FHP Lt. Tara Crescenzi.
GRAPHIC: Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles
CLERMONT, Fla.—A teenager was killed early Wednesday after running off the road and hitting a tree, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
Shortly before 1:30 a.m., a 17-year-old male was driving a 2003 Chevy S-10 eastbound on County Road 474, west of Hilochee Ridge Road in unincorporated Clermont when he left the road for an unknown reason, FHP said.
The pickup truck struck a tree, and the teen was pronounced deceased on the scene. The crash remains under investigation.
LAKE COUNTY, Fla.—At press time Christmas Eve, the jolly fellow best known as Santa Claus was last spotted in Lithuania and had delivered more than 3 billion gifts, according to the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD.)
Little boys and girls can track the big guy’s movements online as he makes his way across the world with his trusty reindeer crew, by visiting NORAD Tracks Santa.
NORAD began tracking Santa in 1958 after taking over the duty from the U.S. Air Force.
CLERMONT, Fla.—A Lake County Schools principal is facing a DUI charge after a Clermont Police Department officer pulled him over for failing to maintain his lane, according to an arrest affidavit.
Michael Randolph, 38, principal of Leesburg High School, was spotted by CPD swerving and speeding on State Road 50 near Citrus Tower Boulevard in a white pickup truck shortly before 2 a.m. Saturday and officers pulled Randolph over less than three miles from his home. He provided his driver license and when asked for his registration and proof of insurance, he provided his registration and then handed an officer a second registration, the affidavit states.
The officer told him he had already provided his registration and still needed to show proof of insurance. Randolph asked to look for his phone with his proof of insurance, but was unable to find it, according to the affidavit.
Randolph, who was “very apologetic” as he spoke to officers, agreed to and performed field sobriety exercises, and was arrested following the exercises. He was transported to Clermont Police Department while an officer stayed with the vehicle, awaiting a tow truck. That officer conducted an inventory of Randolph’s truck and according to the affidavit, found open bottles of Smirnoff Vodka and Crown Royal Regal Apple and two plastic cups, warm to the touch.
Randolph refused breath tests upon arriving at Clermont Police Department and was transported to the Lake County Jail, where he was released on $1,000 bond.
Randolph was hired as the LHS principal in 2017, LCS Communication Sherri Owens said, and was awarded LCS Principal of the Year in 2021.
“The District was recently informed of the arrest of Leesburg High School Principal Michael Randolph for driving under the influence. Mr. Randolph has pled not guilty to the charges,” Owens said in an email. “The incident did not occur during a school activity or involve students or employees. The District takes these charges seriously and holds all of its leaders to high standards of personal conduct. However, Mr. Randolph has not been adjudicated guilty of the charges and the District will reserve judgment and further comment until conclusion of the judicial process.”
Michael Randolph, Leesburg High School principal, was chosen as Lake County Schools Principal of the Year in 2021. PHOTO: Lake County Schools
CLERMONT, Fla.—A Groveland man was killed, and his two passengers injured, after a tree fell on the truck he was driving, causing him to crash into a dump truck Tuesday afternoon near Clermont, according the Florida Highway Patrol.
Shortly before 4:30 p.m., the 58-year-old Groveland man was westbound on County Road 474 in a 2017 Ford F-350 with a trailer attached, when a tree from the north shoulder fell on the truck, Trooper Migdalisis Garcia said. The impact of the tree caused the Ford to enter the eastbound lane, and the left side of the Ford collided with the left side of a 2004 Mack dump truck.
MAP: Florida Highway Patrol
The Ford’s driver, and his front seat passenger, a 40-year-old Groveland woman, were airlifted to Osceola Regional Hospital in critical condition. The man was later pronounced deceased, Garcia said. A second passenger in the Ford, a 34-year-old man, also of Groveland, was transported to AdventHealth Four Corners Hospital with serious injuries. The dump truck driver, a 47-year-old Kissimmee man, was not injured.
The crash closed County Road 474 between Cemex Sand Mine and State Road 33 for several hours.
CLERMONT, Fla.—A fatal crash has shut down County Road 474 in unincorporated Clermont, according to the Lake County County Sheriff’s Office
County Road 474 is shut down in both directions, from Cemex Sand Mine, 11945 County Road 474, to State Road 33 while the Florida Highway Patrol investigates the crash that occurred around 4:30 p.m. Tuesday.
CLERMONT, Fla.— “Let us remember Bradley as a true hero for his courageous actions.”
Lake County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Stephanie Earley spoke about her dear friend and field training officer Master Deputy Bradley Link at his Celebration of Life and Service Saturday. Thousands of people were in attendance.
Earley spoke about the relationship she and her husband had with Link, and his wife, Brittany. The times they spent together playing Catch Phrase and, “our beach days together were the best,” she said.
PHOTO: Real Life Christian Church
Deputy Matthew Layman, who was Link’s zone partner when he was in the road patrol unit, spoke about Link’s incredible smile, his commitment to serve, and said “his first concern was always for others.”
Another zone partner and close friend, Deputy Preston Leonard also shared his feelings about Link also known as “Baby Boy.” He described Link as warm, inviting and charismatic, and “truly fearless in all his endeavors.” He spoke about Link “looking at the moon and stars on his telescope, his love for fishing and how Link felt he had not worked a day since his transfer to the Agricultural and Marine Unit because he “gets to do what he loves.”
Lake County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Preston Leonard speaks about his friend and colleague, fallen Master Deputy Bradley Link. PHOTO: Real Life Christian Church
Earley, Layman and Leonard each spoke about Link’s love for his wife, Brittany.
The couple met in high school, Brittany said, “Brad was an exceptional human being. Truly a living, breathing angel.” He was, “slow, to speak, slow to anger, and quick to understand.” He loved lights of all kinds, she said, from lights on a patrol car to Christmas lights, and “his heartbeat was fueled by humble servitude.”
She had a message for those who want to honor Link.
“Love each other without restraint, be kind to all, and have faith that God is good. Have Bradley’s heart for the needy, the broken, the rejects and the lonely.”
Brittany closed with, “I truly believe he is still taking care of me from Heaven, she said, “by sending me all of you.”
Sheriff Peyton Grinnell spoke about Link’s bravery and how his actions saved the lives of his fellow deputies. He was on his way home from a security detail when he heard a call out for extra deputies regarding a fight in progress outside of Eustis. He texted his wife, letting her know he was going to be a little late.
Lake County Sheriff Peyton Grinnell speaks at fallen Master Deputy Bradley Link’s Celebration of Life and Service Saturday. PHOTO: Real Life Christian Church
After arriving at the scene, deputies believed a home invasion may have occurred at a nearby residence. Link and other deputies entered the home and Link, in the lead position, was met with gunfire from a high-powered rifle and collapsed, suffering multiple gunshot wounds. In a “hail of gunfire,” and crawling for safety, he fired upon the suspects, until he emptied his weapon, allowing other deputies to retreat to safety and then immediately try to rescue Link. One of those deputies, K9 Master Deputy Harold Howell was shot in the immediate rescue attempt. He survived his wound.
In a heartbreaking revelation, Grinnell said Brittany, unaware of this tragic event, called Link’s cell phone to check on him because it was getting late. One of the assailants answered his phone, and told her husband was dead.
“That will forever be the worst phone call of Brittany’s life.”
Grinnell said Link “faced danger without hesitation,” and “selflessly placed the safety of others above his own.” Grinnell awarded Link with both the Medal of Honor and a Purple Heart posthumously. He is survived by his wife, Brittany, his parents, Daniel and Christi, his brother, John and his sister, Brittany.
CLERMONT, Fla.—A celebration of life and memorial service for fallen Lake County Sheriff’s Office Master Deputy Bradley Link will livestream at 11 a.m. today.
The livestream will be available for those who cannot attend in person. You may watch by clicking here.
Hundreds of people are attending the service, including community members, dignitaries and law enforcement officers from across the country, in addition to family and friends.
Link, 28, was a 2015 graduate of Lake Minneola High School, served in the Army Reserves and became a deputy sheriff for the Polk County Sheriff’s Office in 2017. He was hired at LCSO in October 2019. He served in the Agriculture and Marine Unit at the time of his death.
Master Deputy Bradley Link and Sheriff Peyton Grinnell in October 2019.
CLERMONT, Fla.—A celebration of life and memorial service for fallen Lake County Sheriff’s Office Master Deputy Bradley Link has been announced.
It is scheduled for 11 a.m. Saturday, at Real Life Christian Church, 1501 Steve’s Road, Clermont. For those unable to attend in person, LCSO will livestream the service, the agency said in a social media post.
