Two Killed after Car Overturns in Ocala National Forest

Wetherington and Livengood were traveling in Wetherington’s Chrysler 300 through the Ocala National Forest this past Friday when something occurred to cause the car they were in to crash. According to the report from the Florida Highway Patrol, the pair were traveling east along Northeast 14 Street Road when the incident occurred at close to 5:50 in the evening.

Wetherington, a Silver Springs resident, was behind the wheel of the car as the pair made their way through the scenic area of the Ocala National Forest. The road which travels through this stretch of natural beauty has numerous curves as it hews as closely as possible the natural lay of the land. It was while approaching one of these curves that Wetherington failed to follow the roadway as needed and the Chrysler departed from then asphalt.

Wetherington drove the car along the shoulder for a few moments, trying and failing to regain control of the speeding vehicle. It is not clear if he also attempted to stop the car, or if the speed with which things occurred was too fast for him to respond adequately enough for this measure. Before he could return the car to the road, it crashed into a tree and overturned.

It is not known who called 9-1-1, but emergency response teams were quick to arrive at the scene where they began trying to help the two individuals. The damage inflicted upon Wetherington and Livengood was, however, tremendous and Wetherington was declared dead at the scene. Livengood, a 17-year-old Bellview resident, was alive when responders reached her and they were able to load her into a waiting ambulance and rush her to Ocala Regional Hospital. Doctors and nurses there worked to save the young woman, but she too was gravely injured in the crash and was pronounced dead some time after arriving at the hospital.

An investigation is now underway into just what occurred inside of the car to cause Wetherington to fail in his navigation of the curve. As additional details are released by the investigating authorities they will be released.

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.