One dead following crash in Liberty County
LIBERTY COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB) – The Florida Highway Patrol responded to a fatal crash in Liberty County on Saturday.
According to a news release, a Chevrolet Malibu was traveling west in the westbound lane of State Road 12, roughly one mile east of M.L. King Road. Officials said it appeared the driver fell asleep, leading the vehicle off the paved portion of the roadway onto the north shoulder.
As a result, the vehicle collided with some underbrush and a tree and rotated clockwise while still attached to the tree. The vehicle came to a final rest facing a more northerly direction, officials wrote.
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The vehicle became engulfed with flames. Bristol Fire Department and Rock Bluff Fire Department arrived on the scene and extinguished the flames.
The driver, a 21-year-old from Springfield, was pronounced deceased on the scene by Deputy M. King with the Liberty County Sheriff's Office.
This remains an active investigation with the Florida Highway Patrol Traffic Homicide Team.
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