Troopers with the Florida Highway Patrol have charged a man with DUI manslaughter after a two-vehicle crash Friday evening near the Belleview city limits.
Authorities said the man in custody is William Allen Hibshman of Ocala. The 54-year-old was booked into the county jail shortly before 5 a.m. Saturday, officials said. Hibshman was held without bail.
In addition to the DUI manslaughter charge, Hibshman is charged with two counts of driving under the influence with serious bodily injury and one count of driving under the influence with property damage.
According to troopers, Hibshman was driving a Ford pickup north on US 441. A Toyota RAV4 SUV was also traveling north in front of Hibshman.
The pickup hit the Toyota from behind, authorities said. The crash occurred at US 441 and Southeast 92nd Loop.
James Lucas, spokesman for Marion County Fire Rescue, said his agency was notified of the crash at 7:39 p.m. Friday and arrived at 7:43 p.m.
Because of the severe damage to both vehicles, Lucas said, rescue officials had to free the prisoners. He said the liberation started at 7:46 PM and ended at 7:57 PM
Inside the SUV were a 76-year-old man and a 72-year-old woman, both from Clermont; and a 60-year-old woman and a 53-year-old man, both from Ocala, officials said. The 53-year-old man was the driver, FHP officials said. They were transported to HCA Florida Ocala Hospital, where the 72-year-old woman died.
The deceased was identified as Martina Velez. Authorities said the people in the SUV are related.
Hibshman was the only occupant in the pickup, according to law enforcement officials. With the exception of Hibshman, officials said the others remain in hospital as of Saturday afternoon.
It is not known if speed was a factor. The investigation is ongoing.
Records show an Ocala Police Department officer issued Hibshman a speeding ticket on Aug. 6. On that ticket, the officer wrote: “The posted speed was 35 per vehicle. The vehicle was observed traveling well in excess of that speed. When attempting to pass, speeds increased to 95 miles per hour. /near rear another vehicle ended due to speed/speed not captured on radar.”
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In that case, no one was injured. The violation called for a $166 fine.
Court records show the judgment was withheld when Hibshman completed traffic school.
Contact Austin L. Miller at austin.miller@starbanner.com
This article originally appeared on Ocala Star-Banner: Man charged with DUI manslaughter after two-vehicle crash near Belleview
