Fatality

Owen Wells and his two younger brothers PHOTO: GoFundMe/Support for the Wells's Family

Account Created to Support Family of High School Student Tragically Killed Thursday

Clermont, Inside Scoop, Minneola, Montverde, Unincorporated Lake / By

MONTVERDE, Florida—A GoFundMe has been created to help provide financial support to the family of  the Lake Minneola High School freshman who was tragically killed in a hit and run crash Thursday.

The account, created by family friend Derek Kelley, describes 14-year-old Owen Wells as “always smiling” and “always on some adventure”

“Owen had a love of God and a love of life,” Kelley wrote. “Owen had a deep love for his parents. And definitely loved the occasional harassment of his two younger brothers.

The funds collected are slated to pay for Owen’s funeral expenses and to give Owen’s parents, Jim and Beth, time to grieve, Kelley said.

Owen, of Montverde, was the victim of a hit and run crash just before 6:30 a.m. Thursday as he waited for his school bus, according to Kelley.

Florida Highway Patrol Lt. Tara Crescenzi said Owen was crossing the lanes of County Road 455 near Willo Pines Lane when he was struck by a 2007 Pontiac G6 being driven by Enrique Ramirez, 57, of Winter Garden. The impact threw Owen into the southbound lane of County Road 455, where he was struck a second time by a 2006 Dodge Ram being driven by a 59-year-old Ferndale man. Ramirez fled the scene; the driver of the Ram stopped.

Lake County Sheriff’s Office deputies found the Pontiac unoccupied shortly after the crash and FHP investigated and found that Ramirez was the driver. Ramirez was arrested a little over 12 hours after the crash for leaving the scene of a crash involving death. He is being held in the Lake County Jail on no bond.

If you would like to donate to the Wells family, click here Support for the Wells Family

Account Created to Support Family of High School Student Tragically Killed Thursday Read More »

FHP Arrests Man in Hit and Run Death of Teenager

Clermont, Inside Scoop, Minneola, Montverde, Unincorporated Lake / By

TAVARES, Florida—The man accused of hitting a Lake Minneola High School freshman and leaving the scene shortly before daybreak Thursday has been arrested, the Florida Highway Patrol said Thursday night.

Enrique Ramirez, 57, of Winter Garden was arrested by FHP for leaving the scene of a crash involving death, FHP Lt. Tara Crescenzi said. The boy, whose name was not released, was walking across the lanes of County Road 455 near Willow Pines Lane just before 6:30 a.m. Thursday when he entered the path of a 2007 Pontiac G6 being driven by Ramirez and was struck by the front left of the car. The impact threw the 14-year-old into the southbound lane of County Road 455, where he was struck a second time by a 2006 Dodge Ram being driven by a 59-year-old Ferndale man, Crescenzi said. Ramirez and the driver of the Ram were not injured.

Ramirez fled the scene, and the car was later found by Lake County Sheriff’s Office deputies. Troopers questioned the registered owner of the car and their investigation led to Ramirez.

Ramirez was was arrested for hit and run resulting in death. He was transported to the Lake County Jail where he is being held on no bond.

FHP Arrests Man in Hit and Run Death of Teenager Read More »

High School Freshman Killed in Hit and Run Thursday Morning

Inside Scoop, Minneola, Montverde / By

MONTVERDE, Florida—A Lake Minneola High School freshman was killed Thursday after he was struck by a car that fled the scene and then struck by a second vehicle as he lay in the southbound lanes of County Road 455, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

The boy, whose name has not been released, was walking across the lanes of County Road 455 near Willow Pines Lane just before 6:30 a.m. when he entered the path of a 2007 Pontiac G6 and was struck by the front left of the car. The impact threw the teenager into the southbound lane of County Road 455, where he was struck a second time by a 2006 Dodge Ram being driven by a 59-year-old Ferndale man, FHP Lt Tara Crescenzi said.

The teen was a freshman at Lake Minneola High School, according to Lake County Schools Communications Officer Sherri Owens. The tragedy comes just two days before LCS students go on Thanksgiving break.

“It’s a tough day for all of us, especially those teachers, administrators and classmates who knew him well,” Owens said.

The Pontiac fled the scene and was found unoccupied in an undisclosed location by Lake County Sheriff’s Office deputies and was taken into evidence, Crescenzi said. Troopers are interviewing the registered owner of the car and investigating who was driving at the time of the deadly crash. The driver of the Dodge remained on scene, and he was not injured.

The crash remains under investigation.

High School Freshman Killed in Hit and Run Thursday Morning Read More »

Pedestrian Killed Thursday Morning, CR 455 Shut Down

Inside Scoop, Montverde / By

MONTVERDE, Florida—A pedestrian fatality has shut down County Road 455 Thursday morning.

According to the Florida Highway Patrol, a vehicle and a pedestrian were involved in a crash of County Road 455 near Willo Pines Lanes just before 6:30 a.m. The pedestrian was killed and motorists can expect County 455 to be shut down for several hours.

This is a developing story.

Pedestrian Killed Thursday Morning, CR 455 Shut Down Read More »

A damaged tree is seen here after a Tavares woman lost control of her car Thursday and crashed into the tree. The car burst into flames and she was transported to a Sanford Hospital, where she later died. PHOTO: Sean Curry

Fiery Crash Kills Tavares Woman in Umatilla Thursday Night

Inside Scoop, Tavares, Umatilla, Unincorporated Lake / By

UMATILLA, Florida—A 39-year-old woman was speeding before she crashed her car into a tree and it burst into flames in unincorporated Umatilla, witnesses told the Florida Highway Patrol.

Around 9 p.m. Thursday, the Tavares woman was driving a 2009 Chevy Malibu northbound on West 4th Avenue approaching West 7th Street when she lost control, ran off the roadway and struck a tree, causing the car to become engulfed in flames, according to FHP Lt. Tara Crescenzi. Witnesses told troopers the woman was speeding before the crash.

PHOTO: Sean Curry

She was transported to Central Florida Regional Medical Center in Sanford, where she later died, Crescenzi said.

This was second Lake County resident killed in traffic crash in less than 16 hours. Shortly before 6 a.m. Thursday, a crash on Florida’s Turnpike in Orange County killed a tow truck driver from Poinciana and a Groveland man as Hurricane Nicole made its way across Orange County.

Both crashes remain under investigation, Crescenzi said.

2 Killed in Turnpike Crash Early Thursday, Including Tow Truck Driver

Fiery Crash Kills Tavares Woman in Umatilla Thursday Night Read More »

Troopers say Gustavo Martinez Cortez was driving without a license Monday when he caused a crash that killed a Eustis man. PHOTO: Lake County Sheriff's Office

Crash Monday Kills One Man, Lands Another in Jail

Eustis, Inside Scoop, Leesburg, Unincorporated Lake / By

LEESBURG, Florida—The driver who rear-ended a man, causing a chain-reaction crash Monday morning that killed the man, does not have a license, the Florida Highway Patrol said following the crash.

Around 7:20 a.m. Monday, Gustavo Martinez Cortez, 36, of Eustis was driving a 2003 Chevy Silverado southbound on County Road 44 when he failed to stop for a 2004 Toyota Corolla that was stopped in the southbound lane, waiting to turn on Silver Lake Road, FHP Lt. Tara Crescenzi said.

The Silverado struck the Corolla, being driven by a 42-year-old Eustis man, and pushed it into the northbound lane, causing the front of a tractor-trailer to collide with the right side of the Corolla. The Corolla rotated, reentered the southbound lane, and struck a 2015 Mitsubishi Mirage head-on. The crash partially ejected the driver of the Corolla, and he was pronounced dead on the scene.

The driver of the Mirage, a 23-year-old DeLand woman was transported to a local hospital with minor injuries. The driver of the tractor-trailer, a 69-year-old Avon Park man, and Cortez were not injured, Crescenzi said. The crash shut down County Road 44 for most of the day Monday.

Cortez was arrested for driving without a license and causing death; he is being held in the Lake County Jail on no bond.

Crash Monday Kills One Man, Lands Another in Jail Read More »

MAP: Florida Highway Patrol

Fatal Crash Shuts Down CR 44 Monday Morning

Eustis, Inside Scoop, Leesburg, Unincorporated Lake / By

LEESBURG, Florida—A fatal crash involving four vehicles has closed County Road 44 at Silver Lake Road in unincorporated Leesburg Monday morning, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

The crash occurred around 7:20 a.m. Monday and killed a 42-year-old man from Eustis driving a 2004 Toyota Corolla, said FHP Lt. Tara Crescenzi.

A 23-year-old DeLand woman driving a 2015 Mitsubishi Mirage was transported to a local hospital with minor injuries, Crescenzi said; a Eustis man, 36, driving a 2004 Chevy Silverado and a 69-year-old Avon Park man driving a 2021 tractor trailer were not injured.

Drivers are asked to seek an alternate route.

This is a developing story.

Fatal Crash Shuts Down CR 44 Monday Morning Read More »

Man Accused in DUI Crash that Killed 5-year-old Boy Turns Himself in on DUI Manslaughter Charges

Inside Scoop, Mount Dora, Tavares, Unincorporated Lake / By

TAVARES, Florida—The man accused of killing a young boy in a DUI crash turned himself in at the Lake County Jail Wednesday morning on DUI manslaughter charges, according to Florida Highway Patrol Lt. Tara Crescenzi.  

Daksh Wadhwa, 30, of Tavares, is accused of driving drunk Saturday on County Road 448 and killing the Mount Dora boy and seriously injuring his mom.

This is a developing story and Inside Lake is working on getting more details.

Boy Dies From Injuries in Saturday DUI Crash, Charges Upgraded to DUI Manslaughter
Drunk Driver Caused CR 448 Crash that Left 5-year-old in Critical Condition Saturday Morning, Troopers Say

Man Accused in DUI Crash that Killed 5-year-old Boy Turns Himself in on DUI Manslaughter Charges Read More »

Florida Highway Patrol

Boy Dies From Injuries in Saturday DUI Crash, Charges Upgraded to DUI Manslaughter

Inside Scoop, Mount Dora, Tavares, Unincorporated Lake / By

TAVARES, Florida—The 5-year-old boy who was critically injured in a crash on County Road 448 Saturday morning has died, according to Florida Highway Patrol Lt. Tara Crescenzi.

Daksh Wadhwa, 30, of Tavares, was driving a 2022 BMW 740I westbound on County Road 448 near Shirley Shores Road at 8:30 a.m. Saturday when he veered into the eastbound lane. Both he and the driver of a 2008 Honda Civic swerved to the left to avoid a collision, and the right front of the BMW struck the right side of the Honda, Crescenzi said in a press release.

The driver of the Honda, a 29-year-old Mount Dora woman, was transported to Orlando Regional Medical Center with serious injuries; her passenger, a 5-year-old boy identified as her son in social media posts, was airlifted to Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children with critical injuries. He succumbed to his injuries late Sunday night, Crescenzi said.

PHOTO: Lake County Sheriff’s Office

Wadhwa, who was unsteady on his feet and had alcohol emanating from his breath, according to the arrest report. He provided a breath sample and his BAC was .189, more than twice the legal limit of .08. He was arrested for DUI with serious bodily injury, possession of cocaine and smuggling contraband into a correctional facility. He was released on $3,000 bond Saturday; the charge has since been upgraded to DUI manslaughter, Crescenzi said Monday.

Many of our readers have questioned why Wadhwa’s bond was so low; we are working on getting information from FHP and the Lake County Jail for clarification.

Boy Dies From Injuries in Saturday DUI Crash, Charges Upgraded to DUI Manslaughter Read More »

Florida Highway Patrol

Groveland Woman Found in Cardiac Arrest Following 4-Vehicle Crash Wednesday

Groveland, Inside Scoop / By

ALTAMONTE SPRINGS, Florida—A 73-year-old Groveland woman found in cardiac arrest following a crash Wednesday, failed to stop on an Interstate 4 exit ramp and caused the chain-reaction crash, according to Florida Highway Patrol Lt. Channing Taylor.  

The woman was driving a sedan when she failed to stop for traffic on the exit ramp at I4 and State 436 in Altamonte Springs at 3:10 p.m. Wednesday, Taylor said in a press release. The woman’s car struck a sedan being driven by a 48-year-old Apopka man, pushing his sedan into another sedan being driven by a 52-year-old Longwood man and pushing that sedan into a pickup truck being driven by a 70-year-old North Carolina man.

The Groveland woman was found in cardiac arrest and efforts were made to revive her, but she was pronounced dead at Altamonte Hospital, Taylor said. The Apopka man suffered minor injuries.

Groveland Woman Found in Cardiac Arrest Following 4-Vehicle Crash Wednesday Read More »

Scroll to Top