2 dead, 1 hurt in Orange County crash on Florida’s Turnpike, troopers say

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – Two men were killed Thursday in a crash on the Florida Turnpike that involved a pickup truck and a stationary tow truck, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

The crash was reported southbound at 5:44 a.m. near mile marker 266 (State Road 408), troopers said.

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According to a crash report, the tow truck was parked in the inside shoulder ahead of an FHP marked patrol car being used by a trooper, who was working a previous single-vehicle crash. Both the tow truck and the patrol car had their respective emergency lights activated, troopers said. The driver of the tow truck, a 42-year-old Poinciana man, was standing behind the vehicle, the report states.

Approaching the two parked vehicles was a pickup truck driven by a 53-year-old Groveland man, carrying a 51-year-old man from Clermont as passenger, troopers said.

Troopers believe the Groveland man lost control and swerved toward the inside shoulder. The pickup truck then struck the right rear of the tow truck and its driver, according to the report.

Both drivers were pronounced dead at the scene and the Clermont man was hospitalized with minor injuries, troopers said. The occupants of the pickup truck were both wearing seatbelts in the crash, the report states.

Troopers are still investigating.

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