A 67-year-old Ocala man was killed Friday morning after his pickup truck crossed into oncoming traffic along County Road 464 west of Southeast 51st Avenue, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
The crash happened at approximately 10:08 a.m. when the westbound pickup left the roadway to the right for reasons that remain under investigation. Troopers said the truck first struck a traffic sign before continuing through two drainage ditches. It then re-entered the roadway, crossed back over the westbound lanes, traveled into the eastbound lanes and collided head-on with an eastbound sport utility vehicle.
After the collision, the pickup continued off the left side of the roadway, struck a fence and then crashed into a tree, where it came to a final rest. The SUV came to a stop on the right shoulder.
The driver of the pickup was pronounced dead at the scene. His 52-year-old passenger, also from Ocala, suffered serious injuries. According to FHP, she was not wearing a seat belt.
The driver of the SUV, a 59-year-old Ocala man, suffered minor injuries. He was wearing a seat belt, troopers said.
The crash remains under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol.
