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In this section of our website, you will find current news articles on accidents that have occurred throughout Florida. Orlando Accident Attorney Tony Francis represents accident and personal injury victims in Orlando, Fort Lauderdale, St. Petersburg, Tampa, Sarasota and throughout Orange County, Osceola County, Polk County, Seminole County and Lake County.

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Car Accident

Police Cruiser in Orlando Pedestrian Accident Injures Child
Dec 29, 2009
An Orlando pedestrian accident leaves an elementary student in critical condition after being struck by an Orange County Deputy Sheriff’s car. The pedestrian accident occurred on Wednesday afternoon, December 9, 2009.

Orlando Police report that Marqueasha Sabrii Henderson, 6, a kindergarten student at Orange Center Elementary school, was startled by a horn and ran in front of a police cruiser. The incident took place in front of the elementary school while Henderson was crossing John Young Parkway at Orange Center Boulevard, which is a six-lane road. Lt. Julie Blackmon was reported as the driver of the 2006 Chevrolet Impala that struck the student.

Henderson suffered life-threatening injuries and was rushed to Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children. She has been reported as being in critical, but stable condition.

Police originally believed that the kindergarten student was crossing the street with her mother, Lawanda Gandy, and her two sisters when she was struck. However, police later determined that the woman seen with the child in the crosswalk was not her mother. Police have not yet identified who the woman was.

Police have described Blackmon as a 23-year sheriff’s veteran who works for the agencies youth services division. That division supervises school resource officers.

The Orlando pedestrian accident is still under investigation by local authorities. However, police do not believe that speed was a factor in the accident. - 11 - 20
Orlando Accident Leaves Teen and her Mother Dead
Dec 26, 2009
An Orlando car accident involving one vehicle leaves a 14-year-old Jacksonville girl and her mother dead. The incident occurred on Saturday afternoon, December 5, 2009 in an Orange County resort when the sport utility vehicle (SUV) the teen was driving overturned in a retention pond.

According to the Florida Highway Patrol, Ariel King, 14, of Jacksonville, was driving a 2004 GMC Yukon with her family on board, when she lost control of the SUV and drove through a fence. The vehicle overturned upside down in a retention pond trapping several family members. The incident began in the parking lot at a resort off South International Drive.

Dana King’s, Ariel’s mother, body was retrieved from inside the vehicle. Rescue workers pronounced her dead at the scene.

Rescue crews transported Ariel to a nearby Orlando hospital where she was placed on life support. She eventually died from her injuries sustained in the accident.

There were several other family members injured in the accident including 3-year-old Brealyn Nesmith, who was also placed on life support. Brad Nesmith, 33, and Taylor Nesmith, 13, were able to escape the submerged SUV and suffered only minor injuries.

The Orlando accident is still under investigation by local authorities. The cause of the accident has not yet been determined.
- 12 - 20
Orlando Auto Accident Kills One
Dec 19, 2009
An Orlando auto accident involving a single car leaves one man dead and one seriously injured when the vehicle they were riding in veered off the road and crashed into a ditch. The incident took place at approximately 2:15 AM on Sunday morning, December 13, 2009.

According to the Florida Highway Patrol, Israel Martinez Gutierez, 31, of Orlando, was traveling on Apopka Boulevard near Hiawassee Road, when he lost control of his 1992 Nissan. Reports indicate that he lost control of the vehicle and veered off the road and crashed into a ditch. The Nissan then flew out of the ditch and struck a pole and fence, finally coming to a stop on its roof.

Rescue workers transported Gutierez to Orlando Regional Medical Center where he was treated for serious injuries sustained in the crash.

Hector Castano, 25, of Orlando, who was a passenger in the Nissan, died due to injuries that he suffered.

The Florida Highway Patrol has not determined why Gutierez lost control of the vehicle. The Orlando car accident is still under investigation by local authorities. Charges have not been filed as of yet and the police have not determined whether alcohol was a contributing factor in the fatal crash. - 13 - 20
Florida Car Accident Leaves One Motorcyclist Dead
Dec 07, 2009
A Florida car accident, results in the death of a man when his motorcycle rear-ends the back of a sport utility vehicle (SUV). The incident took place at approximately 10:30 AM on Friday morning, November 27, 2009 on Interstate 75.

According to the Florida High Patrol, Stephen H. Webster, 65, of Mississippi, was traveling northbound along Interstate 75 just south of State Road 26, when he struck the back of a 2001 GMC driven by Megan N. Menendez, 25, of Ocala. Menendez had slowed her SUV to approximately 60 mph due to heavy traffic. Webster was unable to slow down his 2000 Harley Davidson in time and rear ended the SUV.

Webster was thrown from the motorcycle due to the force of the impact. Rescue workers transported him to Shands at the University of Florida. He was pronounced dead later that night.

Menendez was not injured in the accident. Karen Sanders, 34, of Gainesville was traveling in the SUV at the time of the accident. She was not injured.

The two vehicle accident is still under investigation by local authorities. The Florida Highway Patrol has indicated that heavy holiday traffic may have been a contributing factor in the crash. There were no other injuries reported. - 14 - 20
Osceola County Motorcycle Accident Kills Man, Driver Flees the Scene
Dec 04, 2009
A tragic Osceola County motorcycle accident claimed the life of one man early Sunday morning on November 22, 2009 at approximately 1:45 AM. The driver fled the accident scene, leaving the motorist on the ground.

Florida Highway Patrol troopers are now trying to locate the driver of the hit and run accident. It is believed that this crash could have been caused by road rage.

Carlos Cepeda was traveling on Osceola Parkway that morning and notices a white van. “It kind of fish tailed on the side of the grass and almost tipped over, but it caught itself and kept going straight.”

Carlos later found Raul Alicea Nogueras, the motorcyclist, on the ground. According to Carlos, they called 911 and lifted the motorcycle off of him. Nogueras wasn’t breathing and appeared to be struggling for air.

The driver of the white van was heading eastbound on Osceola Parkway next to Nogueras, according to FHP troopers. The van apparently swerved to the right and struck Nogueras, which forced him off his bike and he slid onto the shoulder.

Forty-two-year-old Nogueras died at the hospital from his injuries.

Investigators believe that the white van was either a Ford Windstar or Chevrolet Astrovan. They said that the van may have damage on its right side. - 15 - 20
Deputy and Driver Injured in Davenport Car Accident
Dec 03, 2009
A Davenport car accident that occurred on Sunday, November 29, 2009, injured a Polk County Sheriff’s deputy and another driver. Luckily, the injuries were only minor.

The accident took place on U.S. 27 near the Interstate 4 entrance ramp at approximately 1:40 AM, according to reports.

Deputy Zulaika Vizcarrondo was traveling southbound on U.S. 27 in emergency mode in route to a call of a fight in progress. Her vehicle hit a 2005 Toyota Scion that was driven by 24-year-old Michael Boyette, of Odessa. Boyette was crossing U.S. 27 from a side access road on his way to the Interstate 4 westbound ramp, said the Sheriff’s Office. The front driver’s side of the patrol vehicle hit the front passenger side of the Toyota.

Boyette and Vizcarrondo were both wearing seatbelts at the time of the collision and sustained only minor injuries. They were taken to Heart of Florida Regional Medical Center for treatment.

Investigators are still looking into the details of the Davenport accident. - 16 - 20
Three Separate Polk County Car Accidents Resulted in Three Deaths
Dec 02, 2009
Three people were killed in three separate car accidents on Friday, November 13, 2009 and in the early morning hours of Saturday, November 14, 2009. Authorities said that the three people who were fatally injured include a man and two teenagers.

The first Polk County car accident occurred at approximately 7:30 PM on Friday on Dundee Road. The crash involved 17-year-old Amber Shaw, of Eagle Lake. She was traveling west on Dundee Road when her green 1999 Hyundai went onto the north grassy shoulder, then veered back onto the road. The vehicle then started rotating into the eastbound lane, where Shaw was hit by another vehicle on the driver’s side. Shaw was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash.

Another car accident in Polk County occurred early Saturday and resulted in the death of 18-year-old Mark E. Tourigny of Davenport. Davenport was killed when the vehicle he was riding in struck a tree on Deen Still Road at about 3:00 AM.

The third auto accident took place early Saturday morning when a vehicle veered left onto the shoulder of S.R. 33. The vehicle struck a guide wire, which caused the car to rotate clockwise. Brian Charles Dier, 29, of Lakeland, was not wearing a seatbelt and was ejected from the vehicle. - 17 - 20
Recent Polk County Accidents Show the Dangers of Distractions
Dec 02, 2009
There is no doubt that driving while distracted is dangerous. Motorists often take their eyes of the road to dial or pick up a ringing cell phone. Some people have even admitted to texting and driving. However, recent accidents have brought a new danger to light, which is walking while distracted.

Parents of teenagers are now faced with a new fear that involves youth on foot. Two recent Polk County accidents have brought attention to the phenomenon of distracted pedestrians.

The first pedestrian accident occurred last September when a 14-year-old boy was killed after walking into traffic in Davenport. He had been sending a text message at the time, according to Polk Sheriff’s Office officials.

Last October another accident took place when 18-year-old Robert Lopez, Jr. was hit and killed by a passenger train as he walked along the railroad tracks in Auburndale. Lopez was listening to music on his earphones.

Apparently, pedestrian accidents similar to these two are becoming more common, especially in large cities where more people walk among vehicles. According to Dr. Nick Jouriles, a former president of the American College of Emergency Physicians, “people have earbuds in and they just aren’t really listening (for traffic) or watching. We have seen a whole bunch of people on their iPhone or Blackberry who walk out into traffic or step into a ditch and roll their ankle. We have been seeing more and more of those injuries.” - 18 - 20
Three UT Students Involved in Davis Islands Car Accident
Dec 01, 2009
Three University of Tampa students were involved in a car accident, just hours after a candlelight vigil for a fellow schoolmate who was fatally injured in a hit-and-run accident. One of the students was critically injured in the Davis Islands car accident.

The car accident took place at approximately 3:20 AM and many University of Tampa officials were not sure how much more they could take.

According to Tampa police, 20-year-old Michael Louis-Fernand, was the driver of a 2009 two-door Volkswagon GTI. Louis-Fernand was traveling west on W. Davis Boulevard toward the end of the island, when he apparently lost control of his vehicle, hit a curb and crashed into a concrete wall that surrounded a home at 523 Erie Avenue. The people living in the home were not injured.

Michelle Sams, 20, and Jorge Jimenez, were passengers in Louis-Fernand’s car. Sams was riding in the backseat at the time of the crash. She was transported to Tampa General Hospital where she was listed in critical condition on Tuesday, November 24, 2009. According to Sams’ mother, Donna, Michelle sustained a lacerated liver and lost a lot of blood. Donna said that she was told that Michelle was “almost gone.”

Donna and Steven Sams, who reside in Wilton, Connecticut, were preparing to fly to Tampa to be with Michelle.

Investigators are looking into whether or not alcohol was a factor in the accident. A blood sample was taken from Louis-Fernand by police, but the results could take several weeks. - 19 - 20
Car Accident on Chickasaw Trail Kills One and Injures Two Others
Nov 30, 2009
According to Florida Highway Patrol, a man from Orlando and two other people were seriously injured early Sunday, November 29, 2009 in a two-vehicle accident on Chickasaw Trail.

Unfortunately, the passenger in the 2000 Dodge Caravan, Hason Mendoun, died from his injuries at Orlando Regional Medical Center. Souad Sadiqu, Mendoun’s 41-year-old wife, sustained serious injuries in the crash and was also transported to Orlando Regional Medical Center. It appears as though Sadiqu was driving at the time of the fatal car accident.

Thirty-six-year-old Melvin Munoz was driving the other vehicle involved in the crash. Munoz was listed as being in critical condition at Orlando Regional Medical Center, according to Florida Highway Patrol.

FHP troopers stated that Sadiqu was heading northbound on Chickasaw Trail when she tried to turn left onto Sun Springs Circle and hit Munoz’s 2006 Infinity. Munoz was driving south on Chickasaw Trail. Sadiqu told troopers that she did not see Munoz’s vehicle when she turned, according to the report.

Florida Highway Patrol troopers are still investigating the details of the accident. - 20 - 20