Photo by: Ocala
A three-vehicle crash on Tuesday outside of Dunnellon claimed the life of one person while nine others escaped serious injuries.
The crash blocked traffic along a section of County Road 484 for several hours. It involved two pickup trucks and a sport utility vehicle.
Law enforcement officials arrested one person, but not for the causing the accident on the two-lane roadway.
Here’s what we know:
Where did the crash happen? CR 484 and Southwest 134th Court.
Investigating agency: Florida Highway Patrol.
What happened? FHP troopers said a GMC Denali pickup truck was eastbound on CR 484. A GMC Sierra pickup truck also was eastbound on CR 484 and in front of the Denali. A Chevy Equinox was westbound on CR 484.
Authorities said the driver of the Equinox veered over the center line and side-swiped the Sierra. The SUV then hit the Denali head-on before stopping.
It’s unknown if speed was a factor. The area where the crash happened was dark.
What time were first responders notified? Marion County Fire Rescue spokesman James Lucas said his agency was assigned to the crash at 5:53 p.m. and arrived at 5:57 p.m.
Death and injuries: FHP officials said the Equinox driver was taken to a local hospital, where she died. Those in the other two vehicles — seven men, including the driver, who were in the Sierra, and a man and woman in the Denali — were not injured, troopers said.
The deceased was identified as a 46-year-old woman from Dunnellon. Officials said the woman was on her way home from work when the crash occurred.
Arrest: Troopers said Abenamar Sanchez-Hernandez, 24, of Orlando, was charged with driving the Sierra without a license. The six passengers, ages 20 to 34, are from Orlando and were also on their way home from work.
Court appearance: On Wednesday, Sanchez-Hernandez appeared in front of County Judge Robert Landt for his first appearance hearing.
Through a Spanish interpreter, the judge told Sanchez-Hernandez there’s probable cause for his arrest. The man told the judge he plans to hire his own lawyer. He has no criminal history, according to a prosecutor from the State Attorney’s Office.
Sanchez-Hernandez’s bail was increased by the judge from $1,000 to $5,000. The judge ordered Sanchez-Hernandez not to drive without a valid driver’s license and set his next court date for the end of the month.
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Source: ocala
