UMATILLA, Fla. — A 44-year-old woman from Umatilla died early Monday morning after a stolen pickup truck ran a red light and struck her SUV at a Lake County intersection, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
The fatal crash happened at 4:21 a.m. at the intersection of State Road 19, also known as Central Avenue and Guerrant Street.
Shortly before the collision, the Umatilla Police Department attempted to conduct a traffic stop on the pickup truck after receiving reports that the vehicle was stolen, but the driver fled from officers.
According to state troopers, an adult male was driving a 2018 Nissan Frontier southbound in the outside lane of State Road 19 when he ran the red light at Guerrant Street.
The front of the Nissan struck the left side of a 2019 Jeep Cherokee traveling eastbound through the intersection.
The 44-year-old driver of the Jeep was pronounced dead at the scene.
Troopers said the crash remains an active criminal investigation, with charges pending against the driver.
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