Troopers: 1 dead, 2 injured in fiery Orange County crash

ORLANDO, Fla. — An accident on World Center Drive near the eastbound entrance to I-4 blocked the road after a crash involving multiple vehicles Friday afternoon.

The accident happened in front of Orlando World Center Marriott Resort.

According to Florida Highway Patrol troopers, a green Isuzu SUV traveling on World Center Drive lost control, crossed the median and struck a taxi van.

The car became airborne, overturned and caught fire. The woman driving the SUV was pronounced dead at the scene, according to troopers.

Troopers said cab driver Dionicio Melo, 63, and passenger Jeffrey Emerson, 31, were badly injured and taken to Orlando Regional Medical Center.

One of them was taken from the taxi to a waiting helicopter and transported to the hospital with critical injuries. The other suffered serious injuries, according to troopers.

WFTV got a closer look at the damage left behind in the fiery crash.

Eyewitness News obtained pictures from a witness who says he tried to help one of the victims but couldn't get close to the blaze.

Troopers said the SUV lost control for unknown reasons, and left deep skid marks in the median.

Aaron Bleich was playing golf directly across from the accident and said it was a sound he wouldn't forget.

"Definitely heard the final impact, and it was kind of an abrupt, scary-sounding noise," Bleich said over the phone Friday.

Bleich said he heard that another golfer may have hit a ball that was picked up by the wind and caused the accident, but investigators have ruled that out.

"We saw some white smoke growing and kind of getting bigger and bigger," Bleich said. He said the smoke became black and heavy.

The name of the woman who died in the crash has not been released pending next-of-kin notification.

We will update this story on WFTV.com and have complete coverage on Eyewitness News beginning 11 p.m.

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