Troopers are reviewing surveillance video from two businesses near the scene of a crash Saturday morning involving a Seminole County Sheriff’s deputy and an Uber vehicle that left an Uber passenger dead.
The deputy was driving eastbound on State Road 434 and the Uber driver was heading north on Ronald Reagan Boulevard when the two vehicles collided, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
Investigators think one of the drivers ran a red light, and they’re hoping the surveillance video will show what happened.
“I don’t if 'why' can ever be answered, but at least the 'what,' or 'how' this happened,” said Gregory Allicock, whose younger brother, Corey, was the Uber passenger who died at Orlando Regional Medical Center early Sunday.
Corey Allicock, 28, had used Uber to get home safely from a holiday party, his family said.
Investigators say Deputy Scott Sullivan was responding to a domestic disturbance call when the crash happened. Sullivan had a deputy in training, Darren Shield, 31, riding with him. Shield suffered minor injuries, and Sullivan suffered a broken neck in the crash.
Sullivan’s personnel file, released Monday, shows the deputy had no prior accidents on the job, except for one in which his cruiser was hit while he was parked on the side of the road. The file also shows Sullivan has had no prior disciplinary incidents with the agency.
The Uber driver, 73-year-old Robert Williams, who was driving a Volkswagen, was hospitalized and doesn’t remember what happened, investigators say.
The Seminole County Sheriff’s Office released a statement Monday:
“First and foremost, the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office extends our sincere condolences to the Allicock family for their loss. This is a very tragic situation, and our thoughts are with them at this difficult time. Our thoughts are also with the driver of the vehicle, who we understand was seriously injured in the crash,” said Kim Cannaday, a public information officer for the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office.
A spokesman for Uber, Bill Gibbons, said: "We are deeply saddened to hear of this tragic accident, and our hearts go out to the rider's family during this very difficult time. We stand ready to assist law enforcement with any investigation into this incident."
Allicock’s family said Corey Allicock worked in information technology, was the youngest of four brothers and recently moved in with his girlfriend, who was the love of his life.
“He’s a wonderful person. He exuded love and happiness. He brightened rooms,” Gregory Allicock said.