Dunnellon Restaurant Struck by Runaway SUV

A runaway Ford Explorer SUV apparently struck a car and slammed into a popular Dunnellon restaurant on May 14 around 2 p.m.

Fortunately, no one was inside the restaurant at the time the accident occurred.

According to the Florida Highway Patrol, two cars were involved in the collision with the SUV. While no one involved in the accidents suffered life-threatening injuries, one driver was airlifted to Tampa General Hospital and another driver was taken to an unknown hospital by ambulance.

The driver of the SUV was identified as a 41-year-old Dunnellon man. The FHP said his car stopped inside the restaurant near a dining room and cash register, which is also an area where an office is located.

While the specific details related to this accident are unclear at this time, runaway car accidents can be caused by a variety of factors. Many of these accidents occur when a driver overreacts, panics or makes a serious driving error, which can result in catastrophic injuries.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recently performed a study looking into runaway auto accidents and determining their causes. According to the results of the study, these accidents are generally caused by drivers making a basic and serious mistake: hitting the gas pedal instead of the brakes at a crucial moment.

The study also found the following:

• Driver inattention, including talking or texting on a cell phone, looking away from the road and searching for objects inside the car, can be linked to many runaway car accidents.
• Most of these accidents occur in parking lots and parking garages.
• Alcohol was not a significant factor.

When a driver panics and is involved in an accident due to pedal misapplication, the rapid acceleration can deliver severe injuries to the drivers and passengers of other cars, as well as pedestrians and bystanders. These common reactions while driving can turn minor accidents into serious collisions where drivers and passengers are severely injured or killed. Under Florida law, injury victims and family members of those killed in car accidents as a result of another driver’s negligence are entitled to financial compensation. The Citrus County Injury Lawyers at Whittel & Melton can help victims of runaway accidents recover the compensation they deserve and make sure their legal rights remain protected.

If you were injured in an auto accident due to someone else’s negligence, or have lost someone you love in an accident, contact the Citrus County Injury Lawyers at Whittel & Melton online or call 352-726-0078.