Lake County Man Killed in Hydroplane Crash on County Road 48

By Orlando Personal Injury Attorney on September 29, 2022

A few days before Hurricane Ian made landfall leaving behind a devastating path of destruction, communities and neighborhoods were already starting to feel the storm’s impending impact as high winds, downed power lines, and torrential rains washed over roadways putting local drivers at an increased risk of a major car accident.

Emergency responders and law enforcement officials from across the state of Florida are working overtime this week dealing with the aftermath of Hurricane Ian. While hundreds of residents purchased hurricane supplies and prepared to hunker down in their homes, just as many people packed up their vehicles and hit the streets to find a safer place to ride out the storm. This massive influx of traffic clogging the main interstates, highways, and evacuation routes has led to a sharp uptick in severe auto accidents. Sadly, one such incident occurred yesterday afternoon in Lake County.

According to troopers with the Florida Highway Patrol, it was close to 12:30 p.m. on September 28, 2022, when a 38-year-old man from Howey-In-The-Hills was driving a sedan in the eastern direction of County Road 48. As the driver approached the vicinity of Ranch Road in Astatula, his vehicle started to hydroplane out of control. It veered into the direct path of a 35-year-old man driving a pickup truck in the westbound direction of the road. Neither individual was able to avoid a collision and the two vehicles crashed into one another. The force from the impact caused both the pickup truck and the sedan to slam into a nearby set of guardrails lining the street in that area.

Lake County authorities arrived at the scene of the crash and sadly found that the 38-year-old driver of the sedan had already passed away due to the severe injuries he suffered during the accident. The 35-year-old driver of the pickup truck, who is also from Howey-In-The-Hills, sustained minor injuries during the incident and was transported to a local hospital for additional medical treatments.

This fatal crash is currently under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol. No formal charges have been filed against either driver involved in the accident, however, this could certainly change depending on the final outcome of the case.

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.