Three-car crash in DeLand sends five to hospitals

PHOTO COURTESY DELAND FIRE DEPARTMENT

PHOTO COURTESY DELAND FIRE DEPARTMENT

PHOTO COURTESY DELAND FIRE DEPARTMENT

PHOTO COURTESY DELAND FIRE DEPARTMENT

PHOTO COURTESY DELAND FIRE DEPARTMENT

Police say 17-year-old driver was speeding

By Barb Shepherd
BEACON STAFF WRITER

posted Nov 23, 2009 - 5:28:52pm

A three-vehicle crash in DeLand Sunday afternoon, Nov. 22, sent five people to area hospitals.

DeLand Police said 17-year-old Rodrigo Duarte of DeLand was traveling west on Euclid Avenue, going about 20 mph over the speed limit, when he ran the stop sign at Hill Avenue.

Witnesses told police Duarte, who was driving a 2002 GMC truck, smashed into a 2006 Toyota driven by Gina Martinez of DeLeon Springs, as Martinez crossed through the intersection southbound on Hill Avenue.

Martinez's Toyota was pushed aside, and Duarte's truck continued through the intersection, slamming head-on into an eastbound 2005 Pontiac that was stopped at the stop sign on Euclid, according to the police report.

"Each vehicle involved had extensive damage to it," DeLand Deputy Fire Chief Mark Harper reported.

Firefighters, who responded to the crash at 4:30 p.m. Sunday, had to cut Martinez's vehicle apart to remove the crash victims.

"One of the occupants’ left foot was pinned between the floor and the inside of the crushed sheet metal from the left front impact. The driver was extricated by removing the entire roof and driver’s door of the vehicle," according to Harper's report.

Duarte, Martinez, Martinez's passenger, Christina Hernandez of DeLeon Springs, and a Canadian couple in the Pontiac, Glandon and Frances Thomas, all were taken to hospitals.

Three of the five were taken to the trauma center at Halifax Health Medical Center in Daytona Beach. The Sheriff's Office helicopter, which is normally used to transport trauma patients, could not assist because of the rainy weather, Harper said.

Hospital reports were available Nov. 23 only for Frances Thomas, who was listed in satisfactory condition at Halifax Health, and Christina Hernandez, who was treated for injuries Sunday at Florida Hospital-DeLand and released, a hospital spokeswoman said.

Hospital officials said the other three crash victims have either been discharged or, if their injuries are severe, they may still be listed as Jane or John Does in hospital records, because medical workers haven't been able to confirm their identities.

The DeLand Police report indicates Duarte, who had no driver license, was under the influence of alcohol when the crash occurred. Police said the crash is still being investigated; charges are pending the results of that investigation and blood-alcohol tests on Duarte.

In addition to the DeLand Police and DeLand Fire Department, Volusia County Fire Services and EVAC ambulance also responded to the crash.

— info@beacononlinenews.com

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