Site of fatal crash at Wekiva Parkway spur gets flashers, 2nd look
Within the first 12 hours of its opening, the newest intersection on State Road 46 registered a fatality — a motorcyclist crushed by an SUV that failed to heed a new red light at State Road 453, the newly opened spur of the Wekiva Parkway.
Transportation authorities put up a flashing advisory and agreed to re-examine the intersection in response to the April 1 death of Jason Sasser, 37.
“Please be careful out there, neighbors,” Jack Moss of Mount Plymouth, a former neighbor of Sasser’s, posted on the social-media platform Nextdoor.com. “... the at-fault driver may have been distracted by a phone or whatever and not realized the new light was on.”
Some motorists do not notice new changes to old roads that they are accustomed to driving, Florida Highway Patrol Lt. Kim Montes said.
As an example, she noted a flurry of crashes — none fatal — at the Orange Blossom Trail exit ramp from Interstate 4 when a signal replaced the merging traffic lane.
“I think there is a learning curve sometimes,” she said.
Sasser, a father of two and owner of Last Minute Moves in Mount Dora, was traveling west on S.R. 46 just after midnight when he slowed for the new light, an FHP report shows.
He had texted his wife, Kim, about 30 minutes before the crash to say he was headed home, according to a post on her Facebook page. Another car was stopped at the light.
Troopers said an SUV driven by Arizbet Vasques, 24, of Sorrento plowed into the motorcycle, pushing it into the back of the car waiting for the red light to change.
Montes said investigators are awaiting results from a toxicology test of blood drawn from Vasques as part of their probe.
Vasques also was injured in the crash.
Karen Moss sent emails to several public officials raising concerns about sight lines, wondering if an overpass might obscure the light from westbound traffic.
Among those who responded was Steve Olson, spokesman for the Florida Department of Transportation. Moss posted his reply on Nextdoor.
Olson said the transportation department dispatched a member of its traffic-operations section to take a look at the intersection and relayed concerns to the Central Florida Expressway Authority, which still has jurisdiction of the roadway because construction is continuing. The state agency also rolled out a flashing billboard advising motorists of a new signal ahead.
“We are also examining visibility and the possible need for advance notification/signage due to the new configuration in this area,” Olson said.
Brian Hutchings, spokesman for the expressway authority, pointed out that the area around the new light and intersection, which opened March 31, remains an obvious construction zone lined with orange barrels.
“In a construction zone, it is wise and prudent to drive with an increased sense of awareness and caution, regardless of any flashy, blinky lights,” he said. “There could be workers there; there could be construction equipment; there could be lane changes — all that stuff.”
Hutchings said the new red light was activated March 29, two days before S.R. 453 was opened to motorists, but the signal had flashed yellow caution for at least 10 days.
Mount Dora Mayor Nick Girone also replied to Moss’ email, saying he forwarded it to the city manager and the Lake-Sumter Metropolitan Planning Organization for a future transportation discussion.
“This kind of accident raises a lot of questions,” he said in his reply.
A memorial service for Sasser took place Saturday in Umatilla.
Jerry Sasser, 42, Jason’s brother, reserved judgment on the cause of the crash and focused instead on his brother.
“My little brother was the kind of guy who could walk into a room of 100 strangers and walk out with 100 new friends,” he said.