RSSMulti-Vehicle Crash on County Road 44 Kills 42-Year-Old Man from Eustis
A serious auto accident involving four vehicles on County Road 44 in Leesburg earlier this week claimed the life of a 42-year-old driver from Eustis, according to initial reports from the Florida Highway Patrol.
It was close to 7:15 a.m. on Monday, November 7, 2022, when a 42-year-old man from Eustis was driving a 2004 Toyota Corolla in the southbound direction of C.R. 44 in Lake County. As he approached North Silver Lake Road to make a left turn, a 36-year-old man, also from Eustis, entered the area in a 2003 Chevrolet Silverado. The driver of the Silverado failed to yield for the upcoming Corolla and crashed into the rear-end of the vehicle.
The force from the first accident caused the Corolla to be propelled into the path of a 69-year-old man from Avon Park who was driving a tractor-trailer along the northbound lanes of County Road 44. The driver of the semi was unable to avoid a crash with the Corolla and the truck collided with the passenger’s side of the small sedan.
After the second crash with the semi-truck, the Toyota Corolla crashed into a 23-year-old woman from DeLand who was driving a Mitsubishi Mirage down the southbound lanes of the highway.
Several Leesburg & Lake County emergency responders and troopers with the Florida Highway Patrol were dispatched to the scene of the four-vehicle accident. Upon their arrival, they discovered that the 42-year-old driver of the Toyota Corolla had suffered severe injuries during the collision and had already passed away. The 23-year-old Mitsubishi Mirage driver sustained minor injuries and was transported to a local hospital.
The 69-year-old driver of the tractor-trailer did not require hospitalization, however, it is unclear if he was treated for any injuries by EMTs at the crash site.
The 36-year-old driver of the Chevy Silverado, Gustavo Martinez Cortez, was arrested and booked into a Lake County jail on charges of driving without a valid license. Traffic homicide detectives with the Florida Highway Patrol are currently investigating this fatal four-vehicle crash and depending on their findings, the charges for Cortez could be upgraded.
For over forty-five years, Leesburg wrongful death attorney James O. Cunningham has been fighting for the rights of victims who have lost their life during an auto accident. To schedule a free 30-minute case evaluation, please contact us today at 877-FL-INJURY.
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.
Mr. Cunningham is an excellent and knowledgeable attorney.