The man involved in a severe two-vehicle collision on Tuesday on State Road 40 East remains in critical condition at HCA Florida Ocala Hospital, according to Florida Highway Patrol troopers.
The victim, a 38-year-old man from Astor, was en route to Ocala for reasons unknown when the accident occurred. The driver of the second vehicle, an Amazon semitractor-trailer, a 31-year-old man from Apopka, was unharmed and willingly provided a blood sample for testing.
The injured man was operating a Chrysler Town & Country minivan heading west on SR 40, while the Amazon semitractor-trailer was traveling east on the same road.
The FHP reported that the minivan crossed the double yellow line, colliding with the semitractor-trailer, causing the truck to veer off the road into a ditch. Marion County Fire Rescue had to extricate the minivan driver.
According to FHP officials, the minivan driver exhibited erratic behavior, with a witness noting that the driver would alternately slow down and speed up.
The witness observed this erratic driving over several miles, including instances where the minivan crossed into oncoming traffic. Prior to the crash, the minivan reportedly ran off the road, nearly colliding with the woods.
The Amazon semitractor-trailer driver was transporting products from Gainesville to Daytona, and the trailer has been impounded as part of the ongoing investigation.
Please note that the FHP no longer releases the names of individuals involved in vehicle crashes.
