A woman from Ocala was killed and multiple people were injured, including several children with special needs, following a five-vehicle crash that occurred on U.S. Highway 441 in Marion County on Tuesday afternoon.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol incident report, a 2020 Chevrolet transport van from Cradling Hands Transport, Inc. was traveling southbound on U.S. Highway 441 shortly after 3 p.m. The van was occupied by a 53-year-old Ocala woman (driver), a 36-year-old Ocala woman (passenger), and four children who have special needs.
A 2019 Dodge Journey, driven by a 31-year-old Summerfield woman, was traveling eastbound on SE Sunset Harbor Road.
The following three vehicles were facing northbound in the left turn lane of U.S. Highway 441: a 2007 Toyota Corolla driven by a 53-year-old Summerfield man, a 2015 Subaru Outback driven by a 64-year-old Belleview woman, and a 2012 Nissan Altima driven by a 40-year-old Ocala woman.
The FHP report indicated that the Chevrolet transport van and Dodge Journey both entered the intersection of S Highway 441 and SE Sunset Harbor Road at approximately the same time, and the front of the van collided with the SUV.
The transport van rotated in a southeastern direction and began to overturn onto its right side. Prior to landing on its right side, the van struck the Toyota Corolla and Subaru Outback that were in the left turn lane.
After the initial collision with the transport van, the Dodge Journey traveled in a southeastern direction and struck the front of the Nissan Altima.
Between the initial and secondary collisions, the 36-year-old passenger inside the transport van was ejected from the vehicle and was pronounced deceased at the scene. The van’s remaining occupants, the driver and children with special needs, were transported to local area hospitals for treatment of their injuries.
The Toyota Corolla’s driver was seriously injured in the crash. Minor injuries were also reported for the drivers of the Subaru Outback and Nissan Altima.
The names of the individuals involved in the accident were not released, per FHP policy.