Three killed in Lake County crash ID'd

LAKE COUNTY, Fla. — Florida Highway Patrol continues to investigate a crash that killed three people and a dog in Lake County Wednesday night.

The accident happened about 5:30 p.m. in the area of Wekiva River Road and State Road 46 near Sorrento.

According to troopers, the driver of a Ford Mustang convertible was traveling north on Wekiva River Road and appears to have lost control of the vehicle, crossing into the southbound lane where the car was hit by a pickup truck pulling a boat.

Troopers said the Mustang may have been speeding at the time of the accident.

Ronald Horton, 44, was driving the Mustang at the time of the crash.  The passengers were 36-year-old Michael Sievert and 28-year-old Drew Bannister.  All three were from Illinois.

"I just cried. I just froze. As soon as I found out it was a Mustang, I knew there was only one person in the park with a Mustang," said Zach Fowler, a friend of the car's driver.

Friends of the Horton said he was staying at a nearby KOA campground. 

"I ran down to his camper and his car wasn't there and his dog's not barking," said Angel Smith, another friend of the driver.

None of the people in the car were wearing seat belts, and Horton was ejected from the vehicle, authorities said.

Troopers said the driver of the pickup, Kevin Murphy, of Sanford, was on his way to fish when the accident happened. Murphy was wearing a seat belt and suffered minor injuries, troopers said.

The accident closed Wekiva River Road while troopers investigated.

"(Horton) is a sweetheart. I mean, he's a big teddy bear, a big teddy bear," Smith said.

Mark Vella lives on the road where the accident happened. He said if speeding did contribute to the wreck it wouldn't surprise him.

"All the time there's people racing up and down there, all the time. It's bad," said Vella.

Authorities are looking into whether drugs or alcohol were a factor in the crash.

WFTV