Published on
Apopka, Fla. — A tragic crash in Orange County early Sunday morning claimed the lives of three teenagers and left three others seriously injured, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
Troopers say the crash happened around 1:37 a.m. at Welch Road and Wekiwa Drive in Apopka. A 17-year-old boy was behind the wheel of a 2020 Chevrolet Silverado traveling eastbound on Welch Road when he lost control while negotiating a curve. The pickup veered off the roadway, struck a tree, and overturned.
The driver and two passengers, ages 14 and 15, were rushed to area hospitals with serious but non-life-threatening injuries. Two 17-year-old passengers and a 13-year-old boy were killed. One of the 17-year-olds was transported to AdventHealth Apopka, where he was pronounced deceased. The 13-year-old and the other 17-year-old were pronounced dead at the scene.
Troopers confirmed that several of the passengers were not wearing seat belts at the time of the crash. All of the victims were from Apopka.
The Florida Highway Patrol identified Trooper Costales-Maldonado as the crash investigator, with Corporal Swisher handling the homicide investigation. The cause of the crash remains under investigation, and authorities have not released the names of those involved pending notification of next of kin.
