A 92-year-old Newnan woman was killed in an accident in Marion County, Florida, Tuesday, September 12. The woman was a passenger in a 2013 Ford F-150 being driven by her 62-year-old son, who is also from Newnan. The vehicle collided with a 2013 Toyota Sienna driven by a 32-year-old woman from Summerfield.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol’s accident report, the Sienna was heading west on County Road 484 in the right lane, traveling toward the intersection of County Road 475. The pickup, meanwhile, was heading south on County Road 475. Both vehicles entered the intersection simultaneously, which resulted in the accident. The pickup rolled over in the intersection and collided with a raised concrete island. First responders pronounced the woman dead at the scene.
The woman’s 92-year-old husband also suffered serious injuries and was taken to Ocala Regional Medical Center for treatment. Another passenger, a 60-year-old woman, suffered minor injuries. Both people in the van escaped injury.
Hurricane Irma a possible factor
Later reports on the accident indicated traffic lights at the intersection were inoperative because of damage caused during Hurricane Irma’s passage through the region.
In normal circumstances, a municipality could be liable for inoperative traffic signals that lead to an accident. However, the hurricane creates some special circumstances. In this situation, each driver must approach the intersection with caution and yield right-of-way just as they would at an uncontrolled intersection in a residential area.
To learn more about your legal options after a serious car accident, meet with a skilled Florida personal injury attorney at Goldman, Babboni, Fernandez, Murphy & Walsh.