Four people and a dog were killed late Wednesday while traveling along a Lake County road when their car left the way and crashed into a tree.
Florida Highway Patrol troopers said that the Dodge Durango carrying the four victims and their pet was on County Road 561 south of Florida Boys Ranch Road when the 28-year-old male driver failed to negotiate a curve and slammed the car into a tree.
“We’ve just seen too many things on this road,” a resident said. “It’s very dangerous, cars fly down this road. I believe the speed limit is about 55. Everybody goes about 70.”
Lt. Tara Crescenzi added that none of the victims was wearing a seatbelt and that although a car seat was available, the child was not restrained.
“This is devastating; this is a tragedy for this family. A 5-year-old who is not an adult and cannot buckle herself in. this is the responsibility of the parents or any adult in that vehicle to make sure that child is properly restrained,” she said.
