Accident – Death – Obituary News :
A man and woman from Dunnellon found themselves in a harrowing situation on Sunday afternoon as a tragic crash unfolded on Interstate 75 in Columbia County, claiming the life of one person and injuring two others.
The Scene of the Crash
The incident took place on a stretch of Interstate 75 near mile marker 418, where two pickup trucks were travelling southbound at approximately 1:35 p.m. The serene highway was suddenly disrupted by a collision that would change the lives of those involved forever.
The Chain of Events
According to a detailed report from the Florida Highway Patrol, the first pickup truck was observed driving erratically before it sideswiped the second pickup truck. The impact caused the first truck to overturn and collide with a tree on the west shoulder, while the second truck managed to come to a controlled stop near mile marker 418.
The Fleeing Driver
The driver of the first pickup truck, identified as 32-year-old Sergio Diaz-Ortiz from Lake City, made a shocking decision to flee the scene on foot into the nearby woods after the crash. Law enforcement officers later apprehended Diaz-Ortiz and took him into custody at the Columbia County Jail.
The Aftermath
The Victims
The first pickup truck carried two passengers at the time of the tragic accident, both hailing from Lake City. Sadly, the 28-year-old passenger lost his life at the scene, while the second passenger was rushed to UF Health Shands Hospital in Gainesville in a serious condition. Fortunately, the occupants of the second pickup truck, a 57-year-old man and a 51-year-old woman from Dunnellon, escaped the ordeal unscathed.
The Legal Ramifications
Diaz-Ortiz, facing the consequences of his actions, is currently detained without bond at the Columbia County Jail. Charges levied against him include vehicular homicide, leaving the scene of a crash involving death, and operating a motor vehicle without a valid driver’s license. The Florida Highway Patrol has chosen not to disclose the identities of the other individuals involved in the tragic incident.
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