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Lake County intersection investigated after 2nd car plunges into lake

FDOT to add barrier in 2018

TAVARES, Fla. – Community members in Tavares are once again concerned after another vehicle crashed in Lake Eustis.

On Sunday, witnesses said that an SUV crashed into the lagoon near the intersection of U.S. Highway 441 and Lake Shore Boulevard.

Jim Jordan owns the restaurant located at the intersection called Fish Camp on Lake Eustis.

Jordan said yesterday he heard the commotion outside and knew exactly what to do, since the business has a plan for what to do when cars go into the water.

"Our routine is to grab a hammer and run out, just in case we need to break a window or whatever, so I did that," said Jordan.

For the second time in four months, a car had driven off the roadway at the intersection and had to be pulled out of the water.

The woman driving the SUV on Sunday was rescued by witnesses.

"I was lucky it was at that time of day where there were a lot of witnesses and people to help," Jordan said.

Sunday's crash is very similar to video News 6 aired in July that showed an SUV turning left onto Lake Shore Boulevard from Highway 441, and then plummeting into the water below.

In July, state transportation officials said the department would hurry up and place a guardrail at the location within a few months. On Monday, however, the Florida Department of Transportation said there would be no construction for any safety projects until spring 2018.

"It makes you wonder when it will happen again because it will happen again. The guardrail, it's a handrail, not a guardrail. It doesn't stop anything," said Jordan.


About the Author
Troy Campbell headshot

Troy graduated from California State University Northridge with a Bachelor's Degree in Communication. He has reported on Mexican drug cartel violence on the El Paso/ Juarez border, nuclear testing facilities at the Idaho National Laboratory and severe Winter weather in Michigan.

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