Two men die in single-vehicle crash in Ocklawaha early Thursday

OCAKLAWAHA — Two men were killed early Thursday morning when the vehicle in which they were traveling ran off the roadway and wrapped around a tree in southeast Marion County.

Florida Highway Patrol troopers said the older model Chrysler Town & Country minivan was traveling west on County Road 464C when it veered to the left and off the two-lane roadway onto the shoulder.

Authorities said the vehicle overturned and struck some trees not far from the road.

Residents who live across the street from the wreck heard a loud noise and called 911, FHP officials said.

Troopers said a county road crew was called to remove portions of a tree that was lodged in the vehicle.

Marion County Fire Rescue spokesman James Lucas said firefighters were assigned the call at 2:27 a.m. and arrived at 2:38 a.m. The two men in the vehicle were pronounced dead at 2:41 a.m.

Firefighters had to use hydraulic extraction tools to get to the driver and passenger that were trapped. The extraction process was extensive as they had to cut parts of the vehicle to get to the men.

Troopers said speed was a factor in the crash. The speed limit on the roadway is 50 mph. The crash occurred in the 11600 block of County Road 464C. The roadway was blocked for more than seven hours so troopers could investigate the scene, Medical Examiner’s Office officials examined the bodies, fire officials remove the men and for road crews officials to take portions of the tree from the vehicle.

FHP officials said the driver was a 50-year-old man from Keystone Heights. His passenger is was 37-year-old man from Bell.

The names of individuals involved in crashes are no longer released by FHP officials per their policy.