Ocala, Florida — The Florida Highway Patrol said an Inverness man, identified as Ricky A. Suggs, 58, was killed after his SUV collided head-on with a semi Friday morning.
The accident happened on State Road 200, near the entrance of the Spruce Creek Preserve community.
According to troopers on the scene, a 2003 Lexus SUV driven by Suggs was headed east (toward Ocala) when it veered into the path of a semi hauling a flat-bed trailer that was loaded with roofing materials. The semi, driven by Donny Wayne Bryant, 52, of was traveling west toward Citrus County.
Troopers said the driver of the semi clearly tried to brake in an effort to avoid the accident, but could not.
The SUV and the semi hit front-left to front-left, and the semi jack-knifed. The semi came to rest in a grassy ditch on the north side of the road. The SUV came to rest on the south side of the road.
According to troopers, Suggs was ejected from his SUV, he was pronounced dead at the scene.
Bryant was not injured.
AAG Environmental was called to clean-up the nearly 70 gallons of diesel fuel that was leaking from the semi.
A small fire presented itself and had to be extinguished as the tow truck driver attempted to pull the semi from the ditch. Additionally, during one of the attempts to move the semi a chain snapped and “flew back” in the direction of the tow truck driver. It was captured on video.
Troopers said blood was drawn because it is standard with this type of accident, however, they do not suspect alcohol was involved.
At 1:00 p.m., all lanes were still closed as crews attempted to remove the semi.