An incident early Tuesday morning killed many individuals and closed a road in unincorporated Venice, according to the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office.
It occurred shortly after 3:30 a.m. on River Road near West Villages Parkway. According to the Florida Highway Patrol, an automobile carrying two individuals was traveling south on River Road (SR-777), south of West Villages Parkway. A second car, driven by a 64-year-old woman from North Port, was heading north on River Road.
Troopers say the driver of the southbound vehicle crossed the center line and entered the northbound lane in front of the 64-year-old motorist.
The two automobiles crashed head-on. Following the collision, the automobile carrying two passengers caught fire, while the other car flipped.
The southbound car’s driver and passenger both perished at the scene of the incident. Troopers stated they are still working to identify those slain.
The 64-year-old woman was critically injured and was taken to the hospital via ambulance for additional treatment. There are few data available about the cause of the crash.
A section of River Road was closed for several hours but has now reopened.
Reference: 2 people dead, 1 seriously hurt after head-on crash in Venice; roadway impacted during investigation