Inverness woman killed in three-vehicle Inverness crash; Ocala man arrested
Inverness, Florida - On Saturday, January 29, 2022, troopers with the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) arrested Manuel Alfonzo Villalbazo, 22, of Ocala, Florida, a passenger inside a vehicle involved in a three-vehicle traffic crash that resulted in the death of an 18 year-old Inverness woman. Mr. Villalbazo was charged with allowing an unauthorized person to drive (a 16 year-old Ocala boy from Ocala), aggravated child abuse, possession of a controlled substance, and possession of a controlled substance with intent to sell or distribute. He was transported to the Citrus County Detention Facility.
The crash occurred in Inverness, Florida on US 41 (S. Florida Ave.) slightly south of S. Airport Rd. at 1:46 am. According to a press release by the FHP, the 16 year-old boy was driving the first vehicle, a sport utility vehicle (SUV) that was traveling south on US 41 in the inside, northbound lane.
The other two vehicles were traveling north on US 41 in the outside lane. The second vehicle, a sedan, was driven by the 18 year-old woman killed in the crash, which was followed by a third vehicle, a sport utility vehicle (SUV) driven by a 35 year-old woman from Crystal River, Florida.
Just south of S. Airport Rd. the SUV driven by the 16 year-old boy collided with the sedan driven by the Inverness woman, nearly head-on, and the third vehicle was struck with debris from the impact of the other two vehicles.
After the impact, the SUV driven by the 16 year-old boy rotated and came to rest in the southbound left turn lane, while the sedan rotated to rest on the shoulder of US 41, along the east sidewalk.
The Inverness woman was transported to an area hospital, but she later expired of injuries suffered during the crash. Her 18 year old male passenger, also of Inverness, received serious injuries. The 16 year-old boy received serious injuries while Mr. Villalbazo received minor injuries. The Crystal River woman and her 14 year-old male passenger, also of Crystal River, both received minor injuries.
The press release stated that all the passengers of the three vehicles were wearing a seatbelt, with the exception of the 16 year-old boy.