Inverness crash results in 1 death, 2 serious and 5 minor injuries, and arrest of impaired teen driver
A three-vehicle traffic crash that occurred at 11:38 pm on November 17, 2023 in Inverness, Florida, resulted in the death of a Hernando driver, serious injuries to a pedestrian and another driver (while outside of his vehicle), minor injuries to all 5 people in one vehicle, and the arrest of its driver, an impaired teen.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, two vehicles were immobilized on North Florida Avenue (U.S. Hwy. 41), north of Zephyr Street in Inverness, as the result of a crash that had occurred just minutes earlier. The vehicles were a Chevy Silverado (operated by an 82 year-old man from Hernando, Florida), and a Nissan Rogue (operated by a 75 year-old man, also of Hernando, Florida).
A pedestrian, a 45-year-old woman from Inverness, Florida, and another Good Samaritan aided the occupants of the two vehicles, and the pedestrian helped both drivers to safely exit their vehicles as the Nissan Rogue began to catch fire.
At that time, a Kia Optima (driven by a 17 year-old girl from Inverness, Florida) that was traveling south on North Florida Avenue crested a hill and collided with the pedestrian and the driver of the Chevy Silverado, before striking the Chevy Silverado. The impact propelled the Chevy Silverado into the Nissan Rogue.
As a result of being struck by the Kia Optima, the 45 year-old female pedestrian suffered serious injuries, and the 82 year-old male driver of the Chevy Silverado suffered fatal injuries. The 75 year-old male driver of the Nissan Rogue also suffered serious injuries
The four passengers in the Kia Optima all received minor injuries: three males, ages 16, 19, and 20, and a female, age 16, all of Inverness, Florida.
Adison Sinclair Lowdermilk, the 17 year-old female driver of the Kia Optima, also suffered minor injuries. She was transported to an area hospital where she was determined to be impaired. She was later arrested by FHP troopers, charged with driving under the influence manslaughter.