ORLANDO, Fla. – In Flagler County, state highway patrol troopers say charges could be coming for a driver accused of hitting three people as they were crossing the street, killing two of them.
The crash happened early Sunday along U.S. 1 at State Road 100 in Bunnell. Troopers say a 51-year-old man in a pickup truck hit the victims then took off. His truck was later found in a pizzeria parking lot.
Two women, both in their 50s and from Palm Coast, were killed and a 48-year-old man was seriously hurt, officials said.
The driver and his passenger were not hurt. Troopers say charges are pending for the driver.
NTSB investigating 2 Brightline high speed train crashes that killed 3 people in Florida this week
The National Transportation Safety Board said it’s now investigating two crashes that involved Brightline trains and killed a total of three people at the same railroad crossing.
The crashes happened Wednesday and Friday at a crossing along the U.S. 1 corridor in Melbourne, where the high-speed train passes through on its daily routes from Orlando to South Florida.
Friday’s crash killed two Melbourne residents, driver Lisa Batchelder and passenger Michael Degasperi.
On Wednesday, 62-year-old Charles Phillips was killed when his SUV was hit by the train.
According to the mayor, Phillips drove around the railroad crossing and tried to outrun the train. The bright, neon yellow Brightline trains travel at speeds of up to 79 mph through some of Florida’s most densely populated cities.
The NTSB said a preliminary investigative report will be released within the next month.
According to an Associated Press database, there have now been five deaths along the railway extension since it opened in September.
None of Brightline’s previous deaths have been found to be the train’s fault.
Florida citrus industry still on-track for a bounce back season, latest report says
This year’s citrus crop in Florida could show much-needed growth after a devastating season a year ago.
The USDA projects more than 20-million boxes of oranges will be produced this time around, which would mark a 30% jump from last season.
Severe storm damage caused by hurricanes Ian and Nicole led to a sharp drop in production.
If this year’s forecast holds up, the state’s citrus output would still be less than half of what it was two years ago.
By the way, Your Florida Daily released a special episode about the state’s struggling citrus industry and the local grove that is growing a solution to citrus greening.
You can check it out here or scroll down on the player at the bottom of this article.
Random Florida Fact
Legendary civil rights activist Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. spent a night in the St. Johns County jail in 1964.
His crime? He was charged with trespassing while attempting to join friends for lunch in St. Augustine.
Back then, the Monson Motor Lodge & Restaurant was a “whites only” establishment.
Today, the steps where King was arrested have been preserved for almost 60 years.
You can find the Monson Motel Steps next to a historical marker behind the Hilton Bayfront Hotel along State Road A1A.
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