Lady Lake man charged with DUI manslaughter in SR 200 crash that resulted in death of Lecanto man
Photo courtesy of FHP.
Citrus County, Florida - Robert Brandon Vanzant, 31, of Lady Lake, Florida, was arrested as the result of a three-vehicle traffic crash that occurred at 2:25 pm, Sunday afternoon, February 4, 2024, and resulted in the death of a 62 year-old man from Lecanto, Florida.
Vanzant was charged him driving under the influence (DUI) manslaughter, vehicular homicide, leaving the scene of a crash with death, leaving the scene of a crash with injuries, and driving with death while license suspended.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, Vanzant was driving a Ford F150 pickup truck, traveling south on North Carl G. Rose Highway (State Road 200) in Hernando, Florida at a high rate of speed, passing other traffic using the shoulder of North Carl G. Rose Highway. Near East Spruce Drive, Vanzant's vehicle merged back into traffic and collided into the rear of the Lecanto man's Honda Accord, which was also traveling south on North Carl G. Rose Highway. The impact propelled the Lecanto man's Honda Accord across the roadway, where it struck a bridge rail and then collided with a third vehicle, another Ford F150 pickuup truck, traveling north on North Carl G. Rose Highway, driven by a 42 year-old man from Bevely Hills, Florida.
The 62 year-old man from Lecanto was transported to an area hospital where he later expired from injuries suffered during the crash.
After the crash, Vanzant fled to a nearby gas station where he abandoned his vehicle and ran into a pasture. He was located by Citrus County Sheriff’s deputies and arrested by Florida Highway Patrol troopers.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, Vanzant was not injured during the incident, and the 42 year-old man from Beverly Hills suffered minor injuries.