High Springs Residents Killed in Thanksgiving Day Crash

ALACHUA ‒ A three vehicle crash on Thanksgiving morning resulted in the deaths of two High Springs residents and serious injury to a third. The crash occurred on Interstate-75 just south of the Alachua exit at Mile Marker 397 at approximately 10:40 a.m.

According to the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP), the driver, who sustained minor injuries, was a 55-year-old male driving a white sport utility vehicle. Deceased passengers were a 13-year-old and an 83-year-old female, both from High Springs. The seriously injured passenger is a 50-year-old female, also from High Springs.

The crash occurred when a 23-year-old St. Petersburg man, driving a black passenger vehicle, with a 21-year-old passenger, also from St. Petersburg, was traveling south on I-75 in the center lane. A semi truck hauling a trailer was driven by a 38-year-old Clermont man and was also traveling south on I-75 in the right lane, beside the black passenger vehicle.

At the same time the white SUV carrying the High Springs residents was traveling south on I-75 in the left lane. The black passenger vehicle entered into the right lane, which was already occupied by the semi. The right side of the black passenger vehicle struck the left side of the semi and then began to travel in an easterly direction toward the left lane. The black vehicle’s left front struck the right rear area of the SUV. The impact caused the SUV to travel onto the right shoulder and overturn several times.

Two passengers from the SUV were ejected as the vehicle rolled over and they were pronounced dead at the scene and the third passenger was taken to the hospital in serious condition.

The driver and passenger in the black passenger vehicle and the driver of the semi tractor/trailer reported no injuries. All occupants of the white SUV and semi tractor/trailer were wearing seatbelts at the time of the crash. It is unknown whether the driver and passenger in the black passenger vehicle were belted in.

In addition to FHP, Alachua County Sheriff’s Deputies, the Alachua Police Department and the High Springs Police Department responded to the scene of the crash.

At the time of the initial report, this accident was still under investigation.

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