An 85-year-old Homosassa man was killed Wednesday morning when his Chrysler Pacifica collided with a tractor-trailer at the intersection of U.S. 19 and U.S. 98, sparking massive flames and freezing traffic at one of Citrus County’s key crossroads. Fire crews battled intense vehicle fires as troopers shut down lanes and worked through the morning rush to sort out the wreckage and begin their investigation.
Crash at U.S. 19 and U.S. 98
The collision was recorded at about 7:53 a.m., with southbound lanes blocked while first responders worked the scene, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. Troopers marked the incident as a roadway fire and signaled that drivers should expect an extended delay as crews tackled both the flames and the gridlock.
What officials say
According to local reporting that cited FHP investigators, the crash involved a northbound Chrysler Pacifica driven by the 85-year-old Homosassa man, who entered the intersection on a red light and collided with a southbound tractor-trailer driven by a 48-year-old Ocala man. The impact pushed both vehicles into the southwest corner of the intersection, where they caught fire. The Chrysler driver was pronounced dead at the scene, while the truck driver had minor injuries and declined transport, as reported by Tampa Free Press.
Why this matters
U.S. 19 serves as a major coastal route and has been the subject of widening and safety work in Citrus County in recent years, according to FDOT Tampa Bay project documents. State crash statistics show Citrus County logged 157 commercial motor vehicle crashes in 2023, underscoring the stakes when heavy trucks share space with daily commuters, according to the Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles 2023 crash report. Troopers say the case remains under investigation and more details will be released as they are confirmed.
