The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating two overnight crashes in Ocala that sent four people to the hospital, including three as trauma alerts.
At 8:08 p.m. on Thursday, Marion County Fire Rescue’s north county units were dispatched to the 1400 block of NW 42nd Place in Ocala due to reports of a two-vehicle collision near the intersection of N U.S. Highway 441. A 911 caller had stated that the southbound lanes of 441 were “shut down” as a result of the crash, according to MCFR.
Upon arrival at the scene of the accident, MCFR crews observed two vehicles that were involved in a “T-Bone” collision.
MCFR stated that one patient was rushed to a local hospital as a trauma alert, and another patient was transported to the hospital as a “non-emergency.”
Four hours after the first crash, at around 12:10 a.m. on Friday, MCFR units were dispatched to the 6500 block of S Pine Avenue in Ocala in reference to a two-vehicle crash with entrapment.
Upon arrival at the scene, MCFR crews immediately began extricating a victim that was trapped inside one of the vehicles involved in the crash. According to MCFR, it took crew members around 30 minutes to free the occupant due to the heavy damage that the vehicle had sustained.
Two patients involved in the second crash were trauma alerted to a local hospital.
There were no other injuries reported.
The identities of those involved in both crashes were not released by Marion County Fire Rescue.
An investigation is currently underway to determine the cause of the crashes.