Teen killed in Ocala crash, another injured

Lake County woman ejected from SUV in fatal overnight crash

A Clermont woman died after the SUV she was driving crashed into a stump and fence in Lake County early Wednesday, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

The 32-year-old was driving a 2015 Mercedes ML350 northbound on County Road 561 approaching Cypress Cove Lane at 12:19 a.m. when for unknown reasons, she lost control of the SUV and ran off the road, FHP said in its crash report.

As the vehicle hit the stump and fence, it began to overturn ejecting her from the SUV. She was not wearing a seatbelt, and was pronounced dead on scene, FHP said.

The crash remains under investigation.

— Richard Tribou

A Florida teenager was killed, and a second was injured in a vehicular crash Tuesday morning with another vehicle in Ocala, according to Ocala Police.

The teens, both 15, were driving a Toyota Yaris around 5:15 a.m. northbound on NE 25th Avenue, OPD said. Meanwhile, an adult driving a Mitsubishi Montero had stopped at the 14th Street intersection in the inside, southbound lane.

The teens proceeded through the intersection, crossed over the center into the southbound lanes, and struck the Montero head-on.

First responders arrived and transported the teens to the University of Florida Shands Children’s Hospital in Gainesville. Two hours later, the passenger teen, a girl, was pronounced dead, OPD said.

The teen driver is in stable condition. The adult driver had no significant injuries.

OPD is still investigating the incident.

— Joe Mario Pedersen

Leesburg High School band director, guidance counselor resign over ‘cult’ investigation: report

Both the band director and a guidance counselor at a Central Florida high school resigned after a police investigation into what was described as a “cult-like group,” according to media reports.

A spokesperson for the Lake County School District confirmed the resignation of Leesburg High’s band director, Gabriel Fielder, and guidance counselor Leonardo Finelli, according to a report on WKMG.

The investigation began after a former student said he was a member of the group called the “Elder Council” that was led by Fielder, the station reported.

“This group was in no way affiliated with the school or the district, and any meetings they may have had were held off campus,” county schools spokesperson Sherri Owens told the station.

The station reported that the investigation showed the student who was 17 in September 2020 said Finelli at the time began sending him sexual messages, according to police. Finelli, also reportedly a member of the “Elder Council,” told Fielder he was messaging the student, and Fielder said Finelli and the student were not allowed to message one another anymore.

The teen told police that Fielder deleted the messages between the student and Finelli from the student’s phone, the station reported. The teen said after he turned 18 that he and Finelli were in a sexual relationship until November 2021, according to WKMG.

— Richard Tribou