Two passengers killed in fatal crash on U.S. Highway 441 in north Ocala

A fatal accident in north Ocala killed two passengers on U.S. Highway 441 near NW 95th Street earlier this morning.

According to the Florida Highway Patrol incident report, a van was traveling north on U.S. Highway 441 in the right lane at around 1 a.m.

The van, driven by a 58-year-old Homestead man, was carrying five passengers.

A 32-year-old Boca Raton man was also traveling north on U.S. Highway 441 in a pickup truck. The report indicated that he was speeding.

The truck approached the van, failed to slow down, and struck the back of the van. After the collision, both vehicles rotated clockwise, left the roadway, and entered the grass shoulder on the east.

The impact caused the van’s left rear section to split open prior to the van overturning on the grass shoulder.

Four of the van’s passengers were ejected once the van started overturning.

When Marion County Fire Rescue arrived on the scene, two of the passengers (a 61-year-old female and 32-year-old female) were both pronounced deceased on the scene.

The driver of the van and the remaining passengers were transported to UF Health Shands Hospital and Ocala Regional Medical Center for medical treatment.

The driver of the pickup truck sustained minor injuries and was arrested for several criminal charges, including two counts of DUI manslaughter.

After an investigation, the roadway was reopened at 7:40 a.m.

The names of those involved in the crash were not released, per FHP policy.

Source https://www.ocala-news.com/2021/11/24/fatal-crash-in-north-ocala-kills-two-passengers-on-u-s-highway-441/