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Published on Tuesday, April 8, 2003
in the Tallahassee Democrat
Wildwood - A motorist passing other cars over a double-yellow line was killed when his vehicle slammed into a Florida Highway Patrol car, authorities said.
Umitkumar Patel, 25, of Wildwood died Sunday at the crash scene on County Road 466A, two miles west of the Lake County line.
Trooper Robin L. Hadley, 45, of Grand Island and volunteer auxiliary trooper William Dunn Jr., 49, of Orlando were taken by helicopter to Orlando Regional Medical Center, where they were being treated for fractures and other injuries, the FHP said Monday.
Patel was driving at high speed and was passing cars over a double-yellow line marking a no-passing zone, according to witnesses.
Gremlin Ratlin, 36, said she was eastbound ahead of the patrol car when she noticed an oncoming car in her lane.
"He was trying to pass three cars," she said. "I didn't think he was going to make it, so I pulled off the side of the road."
Patel then hit his brakes and slid counterclockwise into Hadley's car, Trooper Kim Miller said.
Both cars flipped, with Patel's car landing on top of Hadley's vehicle. A fire erupted from the engine area of the FHP car.
Hadley, a 22-year FHP veteran, had been honored Friday night in Taverns by the Lake and Sumter chapter of MADD for being the top DUI-enforcement officer from Troop K, the FHP unit that patrols Florida's Turnpike.
Dunn was FHP volunteer of the year in 2002, the FHP said