Dunnellon man dies following crash on U.S. 41
Austin L. Miller @almillerosb
David F. Michael, 66, was pronounced dead at Ocala Regional Medical Center a few hours after the accident.
A 66-year-old Dunnellon man has died following a two-vehicle crash north of Dunnellon.
Florida Highway Patrol troopers said David F. Michael was pronounced dead at Ocala Regional Medical Center at 6:34 p.m. Wednesday.
A woman injured in the wreck — Jennifer A. Lassiter, 44, of Dunnellon — remained hospitalized Thursday at ORMC, troopers said.
Authorities said Michael was driving an older model Chevy Silverado south on U.S. 41 around 2:05 p.m. Lassiter was driving an older model Chevy Astro north on the same road.
Michael's vehicle suddenly drove onto the west shoulder and then veered back to the left and into the northbound lane. The front of the Astro van struck the right side of the pickup.
Troopers said both vehicles came to rest on the east shoulder.
The crash occurred about a quarter of a mile north of State Road 40.
Michael's death is the fifth traffic fatality so far this year. In 2019, 96 people were killed in traffic crashes in Marion County.