VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. – State Road 44 was temporarily closed in both directions after a deadly crash involving a wrong-way driver early Sunday in Volusia County, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
Troopers said a Toyota Tacoma was driving west on State Road 44 in the eastbound inside lane around 2:20 a.m. when it crashed into the right front of an Infinity Q50, driven by a 22-year-old New Smyrna Beach man.
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The crash caused the Tacoma to rotate clockwise while the Infinity traveled into the center median, according to the FHP. The Tacoma came to rest in the eastbound lanes, facing east. Troopers said a third vehicle – a Toyota Prius driven by a 30-year-old Edgewater man – then crashed into the Tacoma.
A fourth vehicle – a Lexus ES driven by a 60-year-old New Smyrna Beach woman – that was traveling behind the Prius observed the second collision and was able to avoid both vehicles, but traveled through the debris, troopers said.
According to troopers, three passengers in the Infinity were killed in the crash.
“The driver of that car is still alive. He’s in serious condition,” FHP Lt. Channing Taylor told News 6. “We were able to talk to him very briefly in order to get next-of-kin information for his passengers. We’re still working on that.”
The suspected driver of the Tacoma fled from the scene into a nearby wooded area, according to FHP. Volusia County deputies tried to find the driver with the help of a K-9 but have been unable to locate the person.
According to the FHP, troopers have been unable to interview the surviving passenger in the Tacoma, and they do not know the identity of the driver or the passenger.
“At this point, we don’t have the name of the driver yet. We’re not sure who we’re dealing with,” Taylor said. “We have a description from one witness that we have a male, short guy, maybe a little heavier-set.”
Taylor added that the truck belong to the passenger, though the driver still should have stayed at the scene following the crash.
“If (the driver) was impaired, he would have dealt with a DUI. Now that he’s left the scene, we’ve enhanced the penalties for leaving the scene because people think they can get away from a DUI or some other charge by leaving the scene,” Taylor said.
The road had been reopened by 8 a.m.
Troopers said the crash is still “a very active investigation.”
This is a developing story, check back for updates.
Note: Due to the information provided, this map depicts the general area of the crash and not necessarily its exact location.
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