FHP: 1 dead, 2 injured after car crashes into home

OAK RIDGE, Fla. - Troopers call it a deadly mistake. A woman crashed into her own house Wednesday, killing her neighbor. The home on Chipola Circle in Orange County is in rough shape, but possibly more broken are the family and everyone involved.

What troopers call an honest mistake turned deadly Wednesday afternoon in Orange County. FHP says a woman drove into her own home, hitting her daughter and granddaughter and killing a man inside.

Neighbor Dean Mallory came home to see all the commotion.

“I’m sad that he passed obviously but you can’t avoid freak accidents sometimes,” said Dean Mallory, who lives down the street.

FHP troopers say the woman hit the gas instead of the breaks, tearing through her converted garage with a neighbor and her daughter and granddaughter inside.

“Really, truly I would categorize this as just an unfortunate chain of events. Really, truly it’s just an honest mistake,” said FHP Lt. Mark Castleberry.

The neighbor inside the home was taken to the hospital, where he later died. There was a passenger in the car with the woman, who was a tenant in her home. They were not hurt. The driver’s daughter and granddaughter had minor injuries and are expected to be okay, but troopers say they are distraught.

“Everyone knew each other so our heart goes out to the family and the extended family, and the driver and the passenger in the car because they were all very close,” said Lt. Castleberry.

After the car was towed, the family was left to pick up the pieces. Even those who don’t know them well are shaken.

“My deepest condolences. I’m sorry that it happened to you. It could be any of us. We’re just one breath away from eternity,” said Mallory.

Troopers say they don’t expect to file any criminal charges in this crash, but they are still investigating.