CITRUS COUNTY, Fla. – An 87-year-old Hernando man tragically lost his life after suffering a medical emergency that led to a car fire in Citrus County on Sunday afternoon.
The incident unfolded around 2:38 PM at 5340 West Grover Cleveland Boulevard. The man was driving a Kia Forte and had stopped at a stop sign when he experienced a medical episode. His foot slipped off the brake, causing the vehicle to travel west across the highway and strike a sign.
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While the car was stopped against the sign, the driver’s foot inadvertently pressed down on the accelerator, causing the wheels to spin. The friction from the spinning tires ignited the grass under the vehicle, and the fire quickly spread to the car itself.
Citrus County Sheriff’s deputies and firefighters arrived on the scene and worked quickly to extricate the driver from the burning vehicle. He was transported to a local hospital but sadly succumbed to his injuries.
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