One dead, five injured in three-car accident

A 49-year-old High Springs woman died and five others suffered minor injuries in a three-car accident in Columbia County Friday evening, according to the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP). 

The collision occurred north of High Springs on U.S. Route 441, where SE Sprite Loop ties in from the southeast. FHP did not release details of what transpired, or the names of those involved, but it did say one of the vehicles was a Columbia County Sheriff’s Office patrol car. 

The only car with a single person in it was driven by a 35-year-old male who was not wearing a seatbelt, according to the FHP press release. 

The woman who died was wearing a seatbelt, as were the two children in the sedan she was driving. They are listed as a 9-year-old female and a 0-year-old female, apparently indicating an infant. The release did not identify the woman as their mother. 

The third car, an SUV, was driven by a 35-year-old High Springs woman, who had a 12-year-old boy as a passenger in the vehicle. Both were wearing seatbelts. 

The 49-year-old woman was transported to UF Health, where she was pronounced deceased. All five other persons involve were treated for minor injuries at Lake City Medical Center. 

The FHP said it is still investigating the crash. 

Editor’s note: This story has been updated to reflect the correct gender of the SUV driver.