Son of Man who Rescued Girl in 2010 Killed by Stolen Car in Seminole County

This past Wednesday, at close to 9:25 in the evening, King, a Maitland resident, was driving his red Ford Mustang through Seminole County. His path took him down US 17-92, into Fern Park, and ultimately to the intersection of US 17-92 and Lake of the Woods Boulevard. It was as the 22-year-old man was attempting to make a left turn onto Lake of the Woods Boulevard that another vehicle struck his car.

Behind the wheel of this second vehicle, a 2010 four-door Kia, was Counts, a 17-year-old Oviedo resident. According to Sgt. Kim Montes, a spokesperson for the Florida Highway Patrol, Counts was driving without a license. Montes also told reporters that Counts had reportedly stolen the vehicle earlier in the night.

When King reached the intersection, the light facing him had just turned from green to yellow. He still had time to make it through the intersection before the traffic from Lake of the Woods Boulevard received a green light, but it seems that Counts, perhaps anxious in his stolen car, was not content to wait for the light to change. Instead, the young man accelerated through the intersection and T-boned King’s car, slamming the mustang into a metal pole located near the intersection.

The force of the collision resulted in numerous injuries to King. His seatbelt, which he was wearing at the time of the incident, was not able to prevent serious bodily trauma, and the official report indicates that he was declared dead at the scene of the crash.

King’s father, J. King, became a well known individual from this part of the state after he made national headlines in 2010 when he discovered the 11-year-old Nadia Bloom in the forest after a large manhunt had been instigated and sustained for several days in order find the missing child. It is unspeakably sad that this man, who was able to save one child, suddenly had his own taken from him.

Numerous charges are now pending against Counts. An initial investigation has concluded that no alcohol or other substance abuse seems to have played a role in the incident.

James O. Cunningham

Since 1977, personal injury lawyer James Cunningham has provided effective legal advocacy to people who are injured through the negligent actions of another person or entity throughout the Central Florida area. He fights to obtain recoveries for his clients’ physical and emotional pain and suffering and pursues his clients’ personal injury cases with a commitment to excellence and impeccable preparation.