Ocala Resident Dies in Early Morning Crash Involving Three Pickup Trucks on U.S. 27

An early morning collision on U.S. Highway 27 in Ocala left one man dead and another seriously injured on December 22, 2025, according to the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP). The fatal three-vehicle crash occurred around 2:22 a.m., shutting down eastbound lanes for several hours while investigators worked the scene.

FHP reported that a 25-year-old Ocala motorist died after his pickup truck collided with another vehicle, overturned, and ejected him onto the roadway—where he was then struck by a third pickup truck traveling in the same direction.

Troopers say two pickup trucks were initially traveling eastbound on U.S. 27, one ahead of the other. The second truck—driven by the 25-year-old who later died—failed to slow down as he approached the rear of the first vehicle, which was moving at a slower speed.

FHP says the impact occurred when the trailing truck struck the left rear of the pickup ahead of it with its right front section.

After the crash:

• Both vehicles rotated clockwise toward the right shoulder
• The trailing pickup overturned, ejecting the unrestrained driver
• The 25-year-old landed on the roadway in the eastbound right lane

Moments later, a third pickup truck traveling eastbound struck the ejected driver. The driver of that third vehicle immediately pulled over and cooperated with investigators.

Marion County Fire Rescue pronounced the ejected driver dead at the scene. Troopers noted he was not wearing a seatbelt, which significantly increases the risk of fatal ejection in rollover crashes.

The other drivers involved:

• 63-year-old Williston man (driver of the first pickup)
  • Suffered serious injuries and was transported to a hospital
• Driver of the third pickup truck
  • Was not injured and remained at the scene

The two damaged pickups from the initial collision came to rest along the south grass shoulder near the tree line.

All eastbound lanes of U.S. 27 were shut down well into the morning to allow FHP’s traffic homicide unit to investigate. Authorities reopened the roadway around 7:00 a.m..

This tragedy underscores a critical reality: seatbelts save lives. Ejection from a vehicle is one of the strongest predictors of fatality in a crash. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) data shows that unrestrained occupants are 30 times more likely to be ejected in a rollover accident.

Rear-end crashes, especially at higher speeds, can quickly turn into rollovers depending on:

• Impact angle
• Vehicle weight distribution
• Roadway design and shoulder conditions

When a driver is thrown into the roadway after ejection, oncoming motorists often have no time to react, as seen in this case.

Legal Options for Families After a Fatal Ocala Accident

Families coping with sudden loss often face overwhelming questions about liability, insurance coverage, and potential wrongful death claims.

Possible legal considerations include:

Was the driver of the first pickup traveling unusually slowly?

This can factor into comparative negligence, though Florida’s negligence laws allow recovery even if multiple drivers contributed to the crash.

Was the at-fault driver impaired, fatigued, or distracted?

Even in rear-end collisions, a full investigation is necessary to determine the chain of events.

Wrongful death claims may allow families to recover damages for:

• Funeral and burial costs
• Loss of financial support
• Mental pain and suffering
• Loss of companionship
• Medical bills incurred before death

Because multi-vehicle collisions involve complex liability questions, families benefit from immediate legal representation.

Flanagan & Bodenheimer Represents Families in Fatal Crash Cases Across Florida

Our law firm has extensive experience handling complex, multi-vehicle wrongful death collisions, including cases involving:

• Rollover accidents
• Ejected drivers or passengers
• Highway fatalities
• Commercial and pickup trucks
• Catastrophic injuries and wrongful death

We purposely maintain a small caseload, ensuring families get personal attention and access to their attorney—not just a case manager.

We have recovered millions in wrongful death and catastrophic injury cases, and we are prepared to investigate every detail to uncover the truth behind fatal crashes.

📞 Contact Flanagan & Bodenheimer Injury & Wrongful Death Law Firm for a free, confidential consultation. You pay nothing unless we win your case.