Missing Orange County man found dead in car pulled from retention pond

OSCEOLA COUNTY, Fla. — The Orange County Sheriff’s Office said a missing man had been found dead inside a car pulled from the water in Osceola County.

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Deputies said they assisted the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office with a submerged vehicle in a retention pond near Waters Edge Drive and Lost Creek Court.

The sheriff’s office identified the man as Jose Rafael Malave Lebron, who had been reported missing since Tuesday.

Photos: Missing Orange County man found dead in car pulled from retention pond

Florida Highway Patrol responded to the area around 12:50 p.m. Friday for the crash in Kissimmee.

Troopers said initial evidence showed that a 2013 Cadillac was traveling southbound on Waters Edge Drive and approached Blue Bayou Drive.

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Missing Orange County man found dead in car pulled from retention pond (WFTV)

Read: Car crashes through brick wall into Orange County home

According to a news release, the driver failed to make a turn, ran off the roadway, hit a utility box and went into the pond.

The driver was then entrapped inside the car as it became submerged in the water.

was pronounced dead at the scene.

Read: Deputies respond to 2 shootings overnight in Orange County

FHP is trying to determine when the initial crash happened.

Investigators are working to gather more details about the crash.

Channel 9 will have updates on Eyewitness News on this developing story.

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