Villages Man Killed in Suspected DUI Accident

A 22-year-old Villages man was killed early Sunday after the vehicle he was riding in slammed into a lamp post.

Investigators claim the 23-year-old driver was driving his 1999 Saab at a high rate of speed when he lost control on a curve. The car struck a median, a lamp post and a tree before coming to a stop.

According to the Florida Highway Patrol, the driver was arrested on DUI manslaughter charges.

The FHP said it took 12 hours to identify the 22-year-old man because he was not carrying any identification. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

The driver was taken to Leesburg Regional Medical Center where he was treated and later released. He was arrested and transported to the Lake County jail, where he faces charges of DUI manslaughter and DUI property damage in Marion County.

The accident apparently occurred just north of the Sumter County line.

DUI accidents are typically handled by two separate courts – criminal and civil. Driving under the influence is a crime, and criminal prosecution for a DUI charge is different than a civil lawsuit. The civil case covers injuries as a result of the driver’s carelessness. If another person’s negligence contributed to your auto accident injuries or a loved one’s death, you may be able to recover damages even if that person was found innocent of a DUI charge in criminal court. A driver accused of DUI does not even have to be tried in criminal court for you to seek damages. Meaning, you could be entitled to financial compensation regardless of the outcome of the criminal case. DUI auto accidents can be quite complex, so it is vital to have an Auto Accident Attorney to help guide you through the legal system.

If you or a family member has been injured in an auto accident, of any kind, you are entitled to be fully compensated for your injuries. This includes compensation for both past and future lost wages and medical expenses, pain and suffering, reduced quality of life and permanent injuries or disabilities. The Villages Auto Accident Attorneys at Whittel & Melton will work hard to ensure that you receive all that you are entitled to under Florida law, not just what the insurance company is willing to pay.

If you were seriously injured or lost a loved one in a car accident in in Lake, Sumter or Marion County, contact The Villages Auto Accident Attorneys at Whittel & Melton online or call 352-369-5334.