A three-vehicle crash on County Road 42 in Marion County turned deadly Wednesday afternoon, leaving a 30-year-old Leesburg man dead and a 27-year-old Eustis woman clinging to life. Investigators say a westbound sedan crossed the center line and slammed into an eastbound pickup, sending debris into the path of a second westbound car. County Road 42 was shut down for about three hours while troopers worked the scene.
Troopers' account
Florida Highway Patrol troopers were called out shortly before 2 p.m. to a stretch of County Road 42 east of Southeast 105th Avenue. They found the westbound sedan's driver, a 30-year-old Leesburg man, dead at the scene.
According to FOX 35 Orlando, the pickup that was hit head-on was driven by a 32-year-old Summerfield man. His 4-year-old passenger suffered minor injuries. Troopers told FOX 35 the crash is still under investigation, and officials have not yet released the deceased driver's name, pending family notification.
Passengers and seatbelt details
The sedan that crossed the center line had two passengers. Leesburg-News reports that a 27-year-old Eustis woman was rushed to a local hospital in critical condition, while a male passenger took off from the scene on foot.
A third vehicle, another westbound sedan driven by a 38-year-old Summerfield woman and carrying four passengers, struck debris from the initial impact. Those occupants were reported uninjured, according to Leesburg-News. The outlet also notes that investigators found inconsistent seatbelt use among people involved in the crash.
Legal note
Florida law requires drivers involved in crashes that cause injury or death to stop, exchange information, and provide reasonable assistance. Willfully leaving such a scene can bring felony charges under state law. See Florida Statutes.
Aftermath
Troopers continue to investigate the wreck, and County Road 42 remained closed for roughly three hours while the Florida Highway Patrol documented the scene and cleared the roadway. According to Inside Lake, authorities are asking anyone with information about the crash to contact the Florida Highway Patrol.
