PAISLEY, Fla. — A person has died and four others were hurt in a wrong-way crash that involved four vehicles and downed power lines early Saturday morning.
- Troopers: 3 of 5 people in crash were not wearing seat belts
- 2 who were wearing seat belts incurred minor injuries
- FHP: Charges pending against driver of wrong-way pickup
Just after 7:30 a.m., Joseph Ferguson was driving a 2004 Dodge pickup truck eastbound on County Road 42, while three other vehicles were on the westbound side, the Florida Highway Patrol said.
The 35-year-old New Smyrna Beach man's pickup truck then crossed into the westbound lane.
James Koon, driving a 1986 four-door Ford vehicle, tried to avoid the Dodge pickup, according to an FHP report, but Ferguson's pickup struck left side of the Ford and its trailer, FHP said.
Thomas Livingston, driving behind Koon in a 2017 Ford SUV, got out of the way but drove into a ditch.
Ferguson's pickup struck the fourth vehicle, a 1997 Dodge pickup truck, head on, FHP said.
The driver of the fourth vehicle, 71-year-old Steven Rodgers of Paisley, was taken to Central Florida Regional Hospital in critical condition. He was not wearing a seat belt, troopers say. Fredrick Bumpus, 71, of Paisley, his passenger, was killed at the scene. He also was not wearing a seat belt, FHP said.
Ferguson, who FHP says was not wearing a seat belt, was taken to Central Florida Regional in serious condition.
Koon, 57, of Paisley, and the 51-year-old Livingston, of Eustis, were wearing seat belts and incurred minor injuries, according to troopers. Neither was transported to a hospital.
Koon's Ford car was pulling a trailer, which struck a power pole knocking it over..
The roadway was blocked for some time.
Charges are pending against Ferguson in the crash, the FHP report said.