3 people die in separate fatal crashes in Marion County, troopers say

MARION COUNTY, Fla. – Three people died in separate fatal crashes that happened two hours apart Friday afternoon in Marion County, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

Troopers said the first incident was a chain-reaction crash that happened at 2:05 p.m. on northbound U.S. 441 near County Road 329 and involved a motor home, a Cadillac, a freight truck and a Mercedes.

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Traffic was congested and several vehicles were stopped when a motorhome with a car in tow, driven by 76-year-old Herbert Goldman of Jensen Beach, failed to slow and crashed into a Cadillac DTS, driven by 69-year-old Joshua Slaughter, according to a news release.

The impact of the crash pushed the Cadillac into a cab-only freight truck, driven by 69-year-old Robert Isham, authorities said. That impact pushed the truck forward into a Mercedes 4S, driven by 72-year-old Nancy Boylston.

[READ: 2 children critically injured in wrong-way crash in Marion County] 

The motorhome also hit the freight truck, which caused it to overturn on its left side.

Troopers said Joshua Slaughter died at the scene and his front passenger, 72-year-old Rita Slaughter,  died at Ocala Regional Medical Center shortly after her arrival.

Herbert Goldman and his passenger, 72-year-old Carole Goldman, suffered minor injuries as did Isham and Boylston.

The second incident was a single-vehicle crash at 4:05 p.m. on County 42, east of SE 175th Terrace Road.

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Troopers said 39-year-old Eric Anderson of Ocala was driving a Ford F150 when he failed to negotiate a right curve and crossed into eastbound traffic then exited the road and a struck a fence and multiple trees.

Anderson died at the scene of the crash.

Neither of the two crashes was alcohol-related and all seven people involved were wearing seatbelts.