A Monday morning drive on State Road 40 turned tragic when a Leesburg family of five was rushed to the hospital after a head-on crash near Lake Winona Road in DeLeon Springs. One family member remains in critical condition, several others have already undergone surgery, and three people in the other vehicle were killed at the scene. The wreck shut down SR-40 for hours and rattled nearby communities.
What State Troopers Say Happened
Florida Highway Patrol investigators said the collision happened around 9 a.m. when a 2023 Honda CR-V veered into the westbound lanes and slammed head-on into a 2021 Ford Expedition on SR-40 west of Lake Winona Road. All three occupants of the Honda were killed in the impact, and first responders treated multiple people from the Expedition before transporting them to local hospitals, according to WFTV.
Leesburg Family Fighting to Recover
Local reporting identified the Expedition’s occupants as a Leesburg family returning from Daytona Beach: Heather, her husband, and their children, ages 11, 14, and 16. All five were taken to the hospital. Four family members have since undergone surgery, and one remains in critical condition, FOX 35 Orlando reported. “We are all supporting them with love,” family friend Robin McDaniel said, asking neighbors to keep both families in their prayers as investigators work to determine how the crash unfolded.
Victims Identified and Injuries Detailed
State troopers released the ages and hometowns of the people who died, listing a 21-year-old man from Port Orange and two other adults who were pronounced dead at the scene, according to WESH. Authorities said all five people in the Ford were transported to area hospitals with serious injuries, and the Florida Highway Patrol is continuing its investigation into what caused the Honda to cross into oncoming traffic.
SR-40 Already on County’s Safety To-Do List
The SR-40 corridor has been flagged in county planning documents for reconstruction, and capacity projects intended to improve safety, with long-term work on SR-40 near Lake Winona included in Volusia County’s improvement plans. Volusia County materials list the roadway among projects planners are weighing to reduce collisions along the stretch.
Florida Highway Patrol said it will release more information as identities are confirmed and the investigation continues. Troopers have asked anyone with information or video of the crash to contact Troop D. WFTV reported that the roadway reopened after several hours of closure.
