CLERMONT, Fla. – Two people were killed early Thursday in a crash in Lake County, forcing a major roadway to close for hours, the Florida Highway Patrol said.
The double fatal wreck was reported at 5:20 a.m. on U.S. 27 near Frank Jarrell Road. Northbound lanes of U.S. 27 are closed in the area.
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The crash involved multiple vehicles, including a tractor-trailer, according to troopers. An image tweeted by the FHP shows at least two vehicles crashed into the side of a jackknifed tractor-trailer.
Record show the 68-year-old man driving the tractor-trailer lost control for an unknown reason, which caused the vehicle to jackknife across the northbound lanes.
An SUV and a sedan that had been behind the truck crashed into the trailer, killing both drivers, according to the report. The 53-year-old Orlando man driving the SUV and the 56-year-old Davenport man driving the sedan both died at the scene.
Another SUV and a truck were both forced to swerve and ended up hitting other portions of the trailer, records show. Those two drivers, along with the driver of the tractor-trailer, suffered minor injuries.
Witnesses said it was foggy at the time of the crash. Charges are pending against the tractor-trailer driver.
U.S. 27 opened shortly before 4 p.m.
This will be closed for awhile!! https://t.co/bsSxPU6KTQ
— Trooper Steve (@TrooperSteve_) February 4, 2021
****TRAFFIC ALERT****Road closure please be advise that the northbound lanes of US Highway 27 in the area of Lake Louise State Park will be closed due to a traffic crash. Please find an alternate and safe route from that area. pic.twitter.com/BUOr8TGlzF
— LakeCountySO (@LakeCountySO) February 4, 2021