Crash Kills Driver, Passenger in Serious Condition

HAWTHORNE ‒ A 60-year-old Hawthorne man was killed Friday, Jan. 29, and his 58-year-old male passenger, also from Hawthorne, is in serious condition after the pickup truck in which they were riding overturned.  The crash occurred at approximately 3:30 p.m.

The truck was traveling north on U.S. Highway 301, just north of Southeast 57th Avenue.  According to the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP), a witness who was traveling behind the pickup truck saw the truck change lanes in front of him, almost colliding with the witnesses’ vehicle.  After changing lanes, the pickup truck’s tires went off-road causing the driver to lose control of the truck.  The driver attempted to correct the truck, but was unsuccessful.  The pickup truck hit a ditch and overturned, flipping over a fence.  The subject truck came to a final rest on 4701 U.S. Highway 301 South in Hawthorne.

Fire and rescue crews from Alachua County Fire Rescue and Melrose Fire Department responded to the scene.  The vehicle had sustained heavy damage and required the Jaws of Life to extricate the driver and the passenger.  

According to the FHP, neither the driver nor the passenger was wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash.

In Suwannee County, a 28-year-old High Springs man driving a pickup truck was involved in a three-car crash on Monday, Jan. 24, at 5:40 p.m.  

All three vehicles were traveling south on State Road 247.  The High Springs man was driving a 2013 F-150 truck and was stopped in traffic ahead of a 23-year-old O’Brien male, who was driving a 2004 VW.  A 2015 Ford Taurus, driven by a 21-year-old Branford woman failed to see the VW ahead slow down.  The front of her car hit the rear of the VW ahead.  After being struck by the Taurus, the VW was pushed forward where it struck the rear of the High Springs F-150 truck.

All vehicles came to a final rest on State Road 247, 100-feet north of Southwest Rough Road.  The 21-year-old Branford man was cited for following too closely.

According to the FHP report, no injuries were reported and all drivers were wearing their seatbelts at the time of the crash.

#     #     #

Email cwalker@

alachuatoday.com