SE Marion: E-bike rider hit/killed by car. Vehicle driver charged with DUI manslaughter

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5 hours ago

A man riding an electric bike was hit by a vehicle killed just before 2 a.m. June 7 in southeast Marion County. The vehicle driver was arrested by Florida Highway Patrol troopers on one count of DUI manslaughter and four counts of DUI with property damage.
The defendant, Janice Schwarz, 34, of Belleview, was transported to a local hospital for treatment after the crash. She was taken to the Marion County Jail after she was medically cleared. She is being held without bail.
The crash happened on a dark stretch of County Road 25 just west of Southeast 80th Court. CR 25, a two-lane road, was blocked more than four hours as troopers worked to clear the scene and investigate the crash.
Crews from Duke Energy were called to repair a wooden utility pole that was damaged in the crash.
FHP officials said Schwarz was behind the wheel of a rented 2025 Chevy Malibu, traveling west on CR 25. The victim, riding an e-bike on the shoulder, also was westbound on the same roadway.
The car struck the motorized bicycle from behind, ejecting the rider. Schwarz lost control of her vehicle, which veered off the roadway, hit the utility pole, and then hit a concrete post. Overturning at least once, the car came to rest on its side.
Traffic was blocked in both directions and the road was eventually re-opened about 6:25 a.m.
Arriving on scene, troopers spoke with Schwarz, who exhibited signs of being under the influence, FHP officials said. Officials said her eyes were glassy, her speech was slurred, and her breath smelled of alcohol.
Schwarz completed a field sobriety exercise and failed the series of tests, authorities said.
Investigators got a subpoena to take a sample of Schwarz's blood. She declined to undergo a breath test, FHP said.
The blood sample will be sent to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement laboratory for analysis to determine Schwarz's blood-alcohol content.
After troopers were finished at the scene, utility workers repaired the pole. Utility officials said service would be interrupted for approximately 20 homes in the area.
Locally, Schwarz does not have a criminal history.
According to the FHP, Schwarz told troopers she had been headed home from a local bar, where she had consumed one beer.
Troopers are trying to identify the victim. They said he was age 37 and from Ocala.
DUI manslaughter charge: Man, 22, charged with DUI manslaughter in February crash in Dunnellon
This was the 28th traffic fatality in unincorporated Marion County so far in 2025. At this time last year the number was 48. In 2024, the FHP recorded 100 traffic deaths in unincorporated Marion.
Contact Austin L. Miller at [e-mail].
This article originally appeared on Ocala Star-Banner: DUI manslaughter charge lodged after crash near Belleview, Florida