SUMTER COUNTY, Fla. – A Friday afternoon drive turned into a chaotic scene on State Road 44 after a single-vehicle crash left a young driver with serious injuries. The Florida Highway Patrol reported that the incident occurred at approximately 1:30 PM on May 1, 2026, just west of County Road 475.
According to investigators, a 19-year-old man from Ocala was heading eastbound in a Volkswagen Passat when he reached a curve in the roadway. The driver failed to navigate the turn, causing him to lose control of the sedan. The vehicle careened off the pavement and into the median, where it began to flip.
Troopers confirmed the car had overturned multiple times before finally coming to a stop. Because the driver was not wearing a seatbelt, the force of the rolling car ejected him from the cabin during the crash.
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Emergency responders arrived on the scene to find the teenager with serious injuries. He was immediately stabilized and transported to a nearby hospital for treatment.
State Road 44 saw temporary delays while crews cleared the wreckage and investigators mapped the scene. FHP has not released the driver’s name or any further updates on his medical condition.
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