An 18-year-old woman died Saturday night following a collision between her SUV and a tow truck on the Florida Turnpike in Lake County, according to the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP).
The fatal crash occurred around 9:44 p.m. near mile marker 291.
According to the FHP crash report, a 2023 Ford Mustang Mach-E, driven by the 18-year-old woman from Southwest Ranches, was traveling southbound in the outside lane. Simultaneously, a 2024 Hino tow truck, driven by a 53-year-old Ocala man, was also moving southbound, partially occupying the outside lane and the outside shoulder.
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The preliminary FHP investigation indicates that as the tow truck was merging from the outside shoulder into the outside lane, it entered the direct path of the SUV. The front of the Ford Mustang Mach-E then struck the rear of the tow truck.
The young woman was pronounced dead at the scene by troopers. The driver of the tow truck was not injured and remained at the scene following the incident. The FHP report noted that both drivers were wearing their seat belts at the time of the crash.
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