An 18-year-old Ocala man is facing a vehicular homicide charge after traffic investigators determined he was traveling 60 miles per hour over the posted speed limit when he struck another vehicle, killing a 48-year-old woman.
The fatal accident occurred on the evening of Sunday, April 19, near the intersection of Hemlock Road and Pine Road, according to a Florida Highway Patrol report.
FHP stated that an 18-year-old driver, later identified as De’Shawn Vonkei Williams, was traveling northbound on Pine Road in an Infiniti Q50 sedan when he approached the Hemlock Road intersection.
At the same time, a Hyundai Elantra was heading westbound on Hemlock Road. The vehicle had two occupants: a 38-year-old man (driver) and 48-year-old woman (passenger), both from Ocala.
Both vehicles reportedly entered the intersection at the same time and, as a result, the front end of the Infiniti struck the left side of the Elantra.
After the crash, the Infiniti continued traveling northeast, colliding with a utility pole and a metal property fence before coming to a stop. The Elantra rotated and came to final rest on the west grass shoulder.
The driver of the Hyundai, who was not wearing a seatbelt, was ejected from the vehicle into a nearby yard. He was transported to a local hospital in critical condition.
The Hyundai’s 48-year-old female passenger sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced deceased at the scene. An FHP trooper noted in the report that she was wearing a seatbelt during the crash.
The two occupants of the Infiniti – Williams and his 21-year-old male passenger from Ocala – were taken to a local hospital for treatment of minor injuries. Both individuals were noted as wearing their seatbelts during the accident.
FHP launched an investigation into the crash, which reportedly revealed that Williams was traveling at an estimated 90 miles per hour in a posted 30 mph zone as he approached the intersection. In a media release, FHP stated that “excessive speed and [Williams’] reckless operation of the vehicle” allegedly led to the deadly crash.
On Wednesday, June 24, Williams was placed under arrest and booked into Marion County Jail. Two days later, he was released after posting bond, and he is facing the following charges: one count of vehicular homicide and six counts of reckless driving.
Jail records show that Williams is scheduled to appear in a Marion County courtroom at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, July 28.