A Friday night drive in Citrus County turned deadly when a GMC pickup slammed into a line of cars stopped at a red light on US-41 near Norvell Bryant Highway, triggering a five-vehicle pileup and killing a Crystal River woman riding in a Jeep Cherokee.
Florida Highway Patrol investigators say the pickup’s driver ditched the truck and ran off before troopers arrived. The 74-year-old passenger in the Jeep was pronounced dead at the scene around 7 p.m., while several other people walked away with minor injuries.
How the pileup unfolded
According to crash investigators, the chain reaction started when the GMC pickup plowed into the rear of a Jeep Cherokee that was stopped at the light. The force of the impact pushed the Jeep into a Kia Sportage, which then hit a Mitsubishi Mirage, which in turn struck a Honda HR-V in front of it, creating a grim domino effect, according to the Tampa Free Press.
Inside the Jeep, a 74-year-old Crystal River woman died at the scene. The Jeep’s driver, a 38-year-old Inverness woman, and another passenger, a 61-year-old person from Kansas City, Kansas, both suffered minor injuries.
In the other vehicles, a 54-year-old Lecanto woman in the Kia, a 26-year-old Brooksville man in the Mitsubishi, and a 69-year-old Inverness woman in the Honda were checked out and reported to have either minor or no injuries. For a crash this violent, troopers say the outcome for the surviving drivers and passengers could have been far worse.
Troopers searching for driver
FHP says the male driver of the GMC got out of the wrecked truck and ran from the scene before law enforcement showed up. Investigators have not yet released a detailed description of the man they are looking for.
Anyone with information is urged to call *FHP (*347), as listed on the Florida Highway Patrol contact page. So far, no arrests have been made, and troopers say they are scrutinizing the pickup, talking to witnesses, and reviewing any available camera footage as the investigation rolls on.
What the law says
Under Florida law, leaving the scene of a crash that results in death can bring a first-degree felony charge, with significant prison time and driver’s license revocation on the table under Florida Statutes §316.027, according to the state code available online. The same statute allows for tougher penalties if impairment or other aggravating factors are uncovered.
Prosecutors will decide on any charges after FHP finishes collecting evidence and submits a formal report on the wreck.
How to follow updates
Troopers plan to complete an official crash report and may release additional details once on-scene work is wrapped and paperwork is processed. Copies of the report can be requested through the FLHSMV Crash Portal, and the agency notes it can take up to 10 days for reports to become available, according to the FLHSMV crash-reports page.
We will update this story as law enforcement releases new information.
