26-Year-Old Killed in Orange County Rear-End Collision
On Monday, February 5th, 2021, a 26-year-old man tragically lost his life when his vehicle was involved in a fatal auto accident at the intersection of Pine Hills Road and Champagne Circle in Orange County, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. Early reports from officers working within the local Orange County branch of the Florida Highway Patrol indicate that they were first called to the scene of the deadly collision at approximately 1:10 p.m. that Monday evening.
Upon their arrival at the crash site, authorities discovered two badly damaged sedans at the point where Champagne Circle and Pine Hills Road intersect with each other. Emergency responders and medical team members immediately rushed to assist both drivers, and after determining that the 26-year-old required further trauma treatment, he was then transported to a local hospital in critical condition. Sadly, due to the severity of his injuries, he died shortly after arrival. His name has yet to be released to the public pending notification to the next of kin. The 32-year-old driver of the other vehicle only sustained minor injuries in the incident.
After interviewing the surviving victim and additional witnesses in the area at the time of the crash, accident reconstruction specialists and investigators with the Florida Highway Patrol have been able to partially understand the events leading up to the fatal collision. Their detailed reports state that the 26-year-old driving was traveling in the vicinity of Champagne Circle and Pine Hills Road when he attempted a U-turn in the roadway. This dangerous maneuver put his sedan into the direct path of another sedan heading southbound on Pine Hills Road. The 32-year-old driver was unable to stop in enough time to avoid a collision with the other vehicle, and they rear-ended the 26-year-old’s sedan.
It is unclear at the time if the younger driver was wearing a seatbelt at the time of the accident, was under the influence of alcohol or drugs, suffered a medical episode, or some sort of vehicle malfunction that would cause him to perform such a risky and seemingly unnecessary U-turn in the middle of traffic.
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James O. Cunningham
Since 1977, personal injury lawyer James Cunningham has provided effective legal advocacy to people who are injured through the negligent actions of another person or entity throughout the Central Florida area. He fights to obtain recoveries for his clients’ physical and emotional pain and suffering and pursues his clients’ personal injury cases with a commitment to excellence and impeccable preparation.