A three-vehicle collision killed a 96-year-old McAlpin woman and injured two other people south of O’Brien in Suwannee County on Wednesday morning.
According to a Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) release, a 30-year-old McAlpin woman was driving a 2017 Kia Forte south on US Highway 129 at 7:40 a.m. behind a 76-year-old McAlpin man driving a 2023 Toyota Camry. At the same time, a 38-year-old Branford man was driving a 2015 Ram 1500 pickup north on US Highway 129 near 232nd Street.
The Toyota Camry started slowing for an animal in the road, but the following Kia Forte did not slow in time and collided with the rear of the Toyota, redirecting the vehicle into the path of the oncoming pickup. The pickup collided with the front of the Toyota and both the Toyota and pickup came to rest in the US 129 northbound lanes while the Kia left the roadway on the west shoulder and traveled into a ditch.
Emergency responders pronounced the Toyota passenger – a 96-year-old McAlpin woman – dead on scene. The Toyota driver was seriously injured and the pickup driver had minor injuries.
The Kia driver and her two passengers – an 8-year-old McAlpin boy and a 5-year-old McAlpin boy – were not injured.