CLERMONT, Fla.—A fatal crash has shutdown several lanes of U.S. Highway 27 at Schofield Road, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
The crash occurred at 5:10 p.m. Friday and involves a vehicle and a motorcycle; the motorcyclist was pronounced deceased on the scene, FHP said. All northbound lanes and one southbound lane of U.S. Highway 27 are shutdown.
This is a developing story.
Fatal Crash Shuts Down U.S. Highway 27 in Clermont Read More »
EUSTIS, Fla.—A community plans to come together Sunday afternoon to raise money for three children injured in a crash that killed their moms in Connecticut last month.
On Oct. 22, Lacey Marie Price, 32, and Rebecca “Becky” Marie Schutte, 36, both of Sorrento, were passengers in a Lincoln Aviator being driven by Kory Watson, 40, of Hillsville, Va. Watson veered into the right lane for an unknown reason on Interstate 91 South in Wethersfield, Conn. and collided with the rear of a tractor-trailer parked on the right shoulder.
The collision killed Watson and Price; Schutte was transported to Hartford Hospital where she succumbed to her injuries. Schutte’s two children, Hailyn, 11 and Braysen, 9, and Price’s daughter, Willow, 7, were also in the Aviator at the time of the crash. Connecticut State Police said the children received minor injuries in the hours after the crash, but they were all severely injured.
Hailyn suffered a broken neck, shattered hip, a broken leg and head lacerations. Braysen suffered a shattered spine and bruised kidneys, and Willow suffered a compression spinal fracture and fractured wrist. All three children have since been released from the hospital, but have a long road ahead of them, both physically and emotionally.
A benefit concert featuring Nails Creek Records recording artists Dallas Tyler and Zach Denby is scheduled for noon Sunday at Crossroads 44, 36721 County Road 19A, Eustis. The benefit will also include $10 BBQ dinners, a 50/50 raffle, live auction of donated merchandise and $2 Jello shots. All proceeds will benefit the children. Admission is $15 and tickets can be purchased at the gate.
John Conley, one of the organizers of the event spoke to Inside Lake about his friendship with Price and Schutte and said they loved their children immensely.
“Lacey and Becky were a lot alike in many ways,” Conley said. “They were outspoken and stood up for what they thought was right. If either one of them had something to say, you were going to hear it, like it or not.”
Conley spoke of their giving nature and their smiles.
“They would give the shirt off their backs if you were in need,” Conley said. “They had a good sense of humor and had contagious smiles when they entered a room. They were genuine women who you could count on to be there. If they were in your corner, they had your back.”
His memories of the two women span many years; Price grew up just four houses down from his grandparents and he met Schutte in middle school, along with her brother Chris. Schutte and her brother lived just a neighborhood away from Conley’s grandparents and Price.
Conley fondly remembers just riding and “jamming out” with Price. “(The) last time that happened we ended up at Coconuts on the Beach day drinking,” he said with a laugh.
He also told Inside Lake about the time Schutte talked him into letting a guy she was dating at the time recolor a faded tattoo. “Long story short, he couldn’t color in the lines, and she had to fixt it,” he said.
Conley was struck by tragedy more than once last month. On Oct. 26—just four days after he lost Price and Schutte—he lost another family friend, Richard “Rick” McPhee, after he succumbed to injuries suffered in a hit-and-run-crash in July. The driver who hit McPhee as he was riding his bicycle to work on Wolf Branch Road, still has not been identified.
For more information on the benefit for Hailyn, Braysen and Willow, visit Benefit Concert for Kids @ Crossroads 44
Previous story: Connecticut Crash Claims the Lives of 2 Sorrento Women and Virginia Man, 3 Children Hospitalized
TAVARES, Fla.—The motorcyclist killed in an early morning crash Friday has been publicly identified.
Russell Pratt, 42, of Leesburg, was riding a 2019 Harley-Davidson northbound on U.S. Highway 441 and police believe he lost control of the bike west of Lakeshore Boulevard just before 1:45 a.m. Friday. The crash remains under investigation by Tavares Police Department.
Pratt was transported to AdventHealth Waterman in Tavares, where he was pronounced deceased, TPD Public Information Officer Courtney Sullivan said. The crash closed the northbound lanes of U.S. Highway 441 for several hours and did not involve any other vehicles.
Numerous people shared their sorrow for the loss of Pratt, a father of three, on social media Friday. He was a graduate of Tavares High School.
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Motorcyclist Killed in Tavares Crash Friday Identified Read More »
TAVARES, Fla.—Tavares Police Department is investigating a crash that killed a motorcyclist early Friday morning.
A 42-year-old Leesburg man riding a 2019 Harley-Davidson crashed shortly before 1:45 a.m. on U.S. Highway 441, west of Lakeshore Boulevard. The man was transported to an area hospital where he later he died; he was not wearing a helmet.
The crash closed the northbound lanes of U.S. Highway 441 for several hours and did not involve any other vehicles. Details of how the crash occurred are still under investigation, but police believe the man was riding northbound on U.S. Highway 441 when he lost control of the bike and crashed, TPD Public Information Officer Courtney Sullivan said.
This is a developing story.
Leesburg Motorcyclist Killed in Early Morning Tavares Crash Read More »
LEESBURG, Fla.—Dozens of vehicles lined both sides of Goose Prairie Road Tuesday night for a candlelight vigil held in remembrance of a teen who was killed in a crash Monday.
The Florida Highway Patrol confirmed the names of both teens to Inside Lake Tuesday afternoon and loved ones and friends gathered to honor Michael Pasternak, 16, of Umatilla, who was the passenger in a Jeep Wrangler that overturned several times, killing him and the driver shortly before 8 p.m. Monday.
Lane Johnson, 17, of Leesburg, was driving the 2016 Wrangler eastbound on Goose Prairie Road near Felkins Road when he attempted to pass a 2005 Ford F-150 in a no-passing zone, shortly before 8 p.m. Monday, FHP Lt. Tara Crescenzi said.
The Wrangler entered the westbound lane and attempted to reenter the eastbound lane due to oncoming traffic. The rear of the Wrangler collided with the front of the F-150 and the Wrangler traveled onto the eastbound grass shoulder of the road. Johnson overcorrected, the Wrangler then traveled across both lanes, overturned several times and struck a wire fence, according to Crescenzi.
Johnson and Pasternak were pronounced deceased on the scene; they were both wearing their seatbelts. The teens were identified as adult males shortly after the crash by FHP and later confirmed to be teenagers in a media release Tuesday morning. Both teens’ next of kin were notified before their names were confirmed to Inside Lake.
The driver of the F-150 was not injured. His age and city were originally incorrect in the first media release; FHP later said he was a 38-year-old man from Umatilla.
Pasternak was a junior at Alee Academy Charter High School in Eustis and Director/Principal Cindy Emerick spoke to Inside Lake about him Tuesday afternoon. She described him as “always smiling” and he was “literally liked by everyone,” Emerick said.
“He had big plans,” Emerick said. “He was going to do something great.”
The school’s mantra is they are a “Fam-Alee” and the “Fam-Alee” bond between the students and faculty was apparent to Emerick Tuesday, she said.
“Our students had a rough day today. So did we,” she said.
Grief counselors were available on campus Tuesday and will continue to be available if needed, Emerick said.
Candlelight Vigil Held for Umatilla Teen Killed in Crash Monday Read More »
LEESBURG, Fla.—The Florida Highway Patrol has released more information on a crash that killed two teens near Leesburg Monday night.
FHP said two adult males were killed Monday night, but an early Tuesday morning press release stated the crash victims were a 17-year-old male of Leesburg and a 16-year-old male of Umatilla.
The 17-year-old male was driving a 2016 Jeep Wrangler eastbound on Goose Prairie Road when it attempted to pass a 2005 Ford F-150 in a no-passing zone shortly before 8 p.m. Monday, FHP Lt. Tara Crescenzi said.
The Wrangler entered the westbound lane and then tried to reenter the eastbound lane due to oncoming traffic. The right rear of the Wrangler collided with the front left of the F-150 and the Wrangler overcorrected, traveled across both lanes, overturned several times and struck a wire fence. The driver and the passenger, a 16-year-old male of Umatilla, were pronounced deceased on the scene. They were both wearing their seatbelts, Crescenzi said.
Inside Lake is working to confirm the identities of the teens.
The F-150 driver, a 38-year-old Umatilla man, was not injured. The crash remains under investigation.
FHP Releases More Information on Rollover Crash that Killed 2 Teens Near Leesburg Read More »
LEESBURG, Fla.—The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating a crash that killed two men shortly before 8 p.m. Monday night.
A 2016 Jeep Wrangler was eastbound on Goose Prairie Road when it attempted to pass a 2005 Ford F-150 in a no-passing zone near Felkins Road, FHP Lt. Tara Crescenzi said.
The Wrangler entered the westbound land and then tried to reenter the eastbound lane due to oncoming traffic. The right rear of the Wrangler collided with the front left of the F-150 and the Wrangler overcorrected, traveled across both lanes, overturned several times and struck a wire fence. The driver and the passenger, both adult males, were pronounced deceased on the scene, Crescenzi. Positive identifications of the men were pending at press time.
The F-150 driver, a 55-year-old Leesburg man, was not injured. The crash remains under investigation.
Crash Kills 2 Near Leesburg Monday Night Read More »
SORRENTO, Florida—A Sorrento bicyclist has died from injuries he sustained in a hit-and-run crash in July, the Florida Highway Patrol confirmed to Inside Lake.
Only Inside Lake reported on the crash that seriously injured Richard “Rick” McPhee, 59, of Sorrento around 5:45 a.m. July 26. McPhee was riding a bicycle eastbound on Wolf Branch Road approaching Stone Meadow Court on his way to work when a vehicle, possibly a 2014 -2018 Kia Soul, struck McPhee from behind, according to FHP Lt. Tara Crescenzi.
McPhee’s bicycle had proper lighting and he was wearing a reflective vest.
The impact threw McPhee to the south shoulder of the road and the unknown vehicle fled eastbound down Wolf Branch Road. McPhee was transported to HCA Florida Lake Monroe Hospital in Sanford with serious injuries. He died Oct. 26, Trooper Migdalisis Garcia told Inside Lake.
“The Trooper investigating this crash found a car part on-scene for a vehicle that could possibly be involved in this crash. The car part was a piece of the front headlight assembly from possibly a white in color vehicle,” Crescenzi said in an email. “The evidence is consistent with a Kia Soul between the years of 2014 – 2018. The suspect vehicle should have damage to the front right.”
John Conley spoke with Inside Lake Wednesday night and said McPhee was his dad’s friend “for as long as he could remember.”
“He was a good friend and my coworker for many years. He looked forward to his yearly trip to Maine, where he would spend a week at his brother (Lee’s) home vacationing. Rick also enjoyed going mudding with his other brother Lance and his son at Hogwaller Mud Bog,” Conley said.
McPhee leaves behind two children, a daughter, Amanda, who is expecting his first grandchild, and a son, RT.
“Hopeful that someone knows something or that the person turns themselves in so everyone can get some closure. It’s just an awful thing to do,” Conley said. “Rick was a good guy; he didn’t deserve to be left for dead on the side of the road.”
FHP is asking anyone with information on the crash, including body shops or mechanics that may have worked on the vehicle involved, to contact them at 407-737-2213 or Crimeline at 1-800-423-TIPS.
Bicyclist Dies from Injuries Months After Sorrento Hit-and-Run Crash Read More »
HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, Fla.—A pedestrian from Paisley was killed Saturday night when he was struck by minivan on Interstate 4, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
A Toyota Sienna, being driven by a 59-year-old Sarasota man, was traveling westbound on I4 near McIntosh Road, just after 8:15 p.m. when the Paisley man, 24, walked across the highway and into the path of the minivan for an unknown reason, FHP Sgt. Steve Gaskins said. “As a result, the vehicle struck the pedestrian, who suffered fatal injuries at the scene of the crash,” Gaskins said in an email.
Paisley Man Killed on I4 in Hillsborough County Saturday Night Read More »
TAVARES, Fla.—Tavares Police Department has released the names of the two men involved in a deadly single-car crash early Saturday morning.
TPD believes Anthony Petchonka Jr., 24, of Tavares was driving a 2003 black Acura coupe when he crashed shortly before 2:30 a.m. near the intersection of Dead River Road and Baytree Boulevard. The impact ejected Petchonka Jr., and his passenger Jordan Debitetto, 22, of Astatula.
Inside Lake originally reported Debitetto was from Apopka, as listed on his driver license, but TPD has since discovered he lives in Astatula, TPD Public Information Officer Courtney Sullivan said. Petchonka Jr. was pronounced deceased on the scene and Debitetto was transported to an area hospital, where he remains in critical condition.
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Single-Car Crash Kills Tavares Man and Sends Apopka Man to the Hospital Early Saturday
Names of Tavares Weekend Crash Victims Released Read More »
