Multi-vehicle crash leaves 2 dead, 2 injured

A 69-year-old man and 68-year-old woman from Ocala were killed in a crash on Florida’s Turnpike in Lake County involving six vehicles Friday morning, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

A 23-year-old woman from Tallahassee was traveling south on Florida’s Turnpike in a 2020 Toyota Corolla in the inside line near mile marker 286 in Howey-in-the-Hills. The Ocala couple were stopped for traffic in the southbound lanes in a 2022 Chevrolet Equinox, the FHP report said.

The Tallahassee woman failed to stop for the traffic ahead, FHP said. As a result, the front of the Corolla collided into the rear of the Equinox.

The sedan rotated and the right side of the vehicle collided into the rear of a 34-year-old man’s 2020 semi-truck with a trailer that was stopped for traffic on the outside lane on Florida’s Turnpike. The Corolla then became engulfed in flames.

The initial impact caused the Equinox to leave the travel lane and enter the inside shoulder. The right rear of the vehicle struck the left rear of a 67-year-old woman’s 2014 Jeep Cherokee that was stopped for traffic, the FHP said.

The Equinox then ran off the road and hit the center guardrail.

The vehicle then rotated and the front right of it struck the left front of a 31-year-old man’s Dodge Ram 2500 that was stopped for traffic, the FHP report said.

The Equinox continued traveling southbound between the guardrail and the trailer of a 35-year-old man’s 2018 semi-truck, FHP said. The front of the Chevrolet Equinox became wedged under the trailer.

The Tallahassee woman and 67-year-old driver of the Cherokee were transported to the hospital with minor injuries.

The driver and passenger of the Equinox were pronounced dead on the scene. The other drivers and passengers were not injured and remained on the scene.

All southbound traffic was diverted at mile marker 289 of the roadway. All roadblocks on the turnpike were cleared by 2:55 p.m.

This crash remains under investigation.