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Sebring Man Dies In Lake County Accident

WAUCHULA WOMAN KILLED IN SEPARATE CRASH

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Brad Dickerson

Published: December 22, 2008

SEBRING - A Sebring man was killed Sunday following a two-vehicle accident in Lake County.

Thomas E. McNally Jr., 29, of Sebring, was southbound in a 2003 GMC Truck on U.S. 27 in the inside lane when his vehicle was struck by a 1999 Mercury, driven by Arturo Hernandez Pina, 27, of Winter Haven, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

McNally was the general manager of Hungry Howie's Pizza & Subs in Sebring.

Pina was reportedly southbound on U.S. 27 in the outside lane, when he traveled across the center lane and entered the inside lane, hitting McNally's truck in the right side.

The truck overturned several times and McNally was ejected. He was not wearing a seat belt.

The crash remains under investigation and charges are pending, according to the FHP. It appears as though the accident is alcohol-related with reference to Pina, who received minor injuries. A passenger in his vehicle, Jose Mugica-Hernandez, 28, also of Winter Haven, was not injured.

FHP Trooper Edwin Rodriguez investigated the crash.

In a separate accident, a Wauchula woman was killed Friday afternoon following a two-vehicle crash in Hardee County.

A 2001 Volkswagon, driven by Gustavo Damian, 17, of Wauchula, was southbound on West Main Street, when he reportedly made a left turn and traveled into the path of a 2003 Chevy Trailblazer, driven by Cipriano Antonio-Villalba, 38, also of Wauchula, according to the FHP.

Silvia Hernandez-Fuentas, 32, of Wauchula, who was a passenger in Damian's vehicle, died on scene due to injuries she received.

Both drivers were transported to Florida Hospital in Wauchula for serious injuries, a press release stated. A passenger in Antonio-Villalba's vehicle, Genaro Martinez-Ignacio, 33, of Wauchula, was also taken to the hospital for minor injuries.

Of the four people involved in the accident, only Antonio-Villalba was listed as wearing a seat belt, according to the FHP.

FHP Cpl. Larry McClellan investigated the crash.

Highlands Today reporter Brad Dickerson can be reached at (863) 386-5838 or bdickerson@highlandstoday.com

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