One Dead After Driver Falls Asleep in Orange County

By Orlando Personal Injury Attorney on April 14, 2020

A fatal Orange County car accident occurred during the early morning hours of Friday, April 10th, is under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol. At the time of this writing, what we know comes exclusively from reports issued by this law enforcement agency, members of whom were among the first responders to the crash and were thus at the scene during the entire beginning stages of the investigation.

The reports indicate that it was before to 4:00 a.m. when a 22-year-old from Orlando was driving their 2012 Toyota down the eastern lanes of University Boulevard. Beside this individual in the car was a 22-year-old from Longwood. It is not clear where the two were coming from, but it was reported that alcohol did not play a role in the accident.

As the two neared the intersection of University Boulevard and Forsyth Road, close to where University Boulevard enters Winter Park, the Orlando driver of the car fell asleep. It is not known how long the individual was inattentive to the road before the car departed from the highway. Before the driver managed to waken and regain control of the car, the vehicle collided with a tree that was standing near to the highway.

It is not known who called the emergency response teams to the area, and it is also not known if the accident was discovered immediately after it happened or if it took some time before anyone else passed down the road and saw the tree and the badly mangled car. It is clear that emergency response teams were notified sometime around 4:00 a.m. and that members of the Florida Highway Patrol as well as paramedics and EMTs rushed to the area in order to assist the individuals involved.

When they arrived, they found that both of the people in the car had suffered from severe injuries. The 22-year-old passenger was the worst off, and despite the best efforts of the emergency medical teams they were declared dead sometime after arriving at Winter Park Hospital.

The driver of the car also suffered from serious injuries. It is not clear if they were taken to Winter Park Hospital as well. Charges against them are currently pending.

Sources:

• FHP: Woman killed when driver falls asleep and car hits tree near Winter Park

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.