A 21-year-old driver is facing numerous charges after two people are dead and three are injured in an Orlando accident early Thursday morning, stated authorities.

  • 21-year-old Kevin Hart faces charges of  vehicular homicide
  • Identities of the dead not released

Merritt Island resident Kevin Hart has been charged with two counts of vehicular homicide while he is in the hospital recovering from his injuries, officials told News 13. Originally, troopers said that Hart would also be charged with two counts of DUI manslaughter, but they later stated that they are waiting for results from a blood test.

At around 2:26 a.m., Thursday, Hart was driving his 2013 Hyundai Sonata with three Orlando passengers, traveling west on Buck Road in the left turn lane near the intersection of Dean Road.  

A 2002 Mitsubishi Mirage was stopped at a traffic light, facing west on Buck Road in the left turn lane when the 21-year-old Hart slammed into the rear of the Mirage while going more than 60 miles per hour, the Florida Highway Patrol stated.

The impact was so strong that it forced both cars into the intersection, FHP stated. Hart's car crashed into a tree.

The driver and passenger of the Mirage, whose identities have not been released, died, authorities stated. The driver, a 55-year-old man, was taken to the Florida Hospital East where he died. Officials are trying to determine if his female passenger died at the scene. It is not known if the two Orlando residents were wearing their seat belts.

Hart, who was wearing his seat belt, and his passenger, 23-year-old Stephanie Chewning, who was not, are listed with serious injuries and were both


Kevin Hart, 21  

Another passenger, 20-year-old Marc Bosciso, was wearing his seat belt and suffered only had minor injuries, FHP stated, adding that he did not go to the hospital.

"According to the passenger who was walking wounded stated that they left the Library Club on the east side of town and they had been drinking at the club," said Sgt. Francina Ogburn of the FHP. 

Hart's other passenger, a male who has not been identified, fled the scene on foot, according to FHP.

Investigators have reopened portions of Dean and Buck roads, which were closed earlier Thursday morning due to the fatal accident.

At least four agencies have responded to a fatal crash. They include Seminole and Orange counties and Florida Highway Patrol.