Two teenagers are dead after an accident that caused three separate crashes early Friday morning, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
- Both teens were wearing their seatbelts: FHP
- Investigation into crash ongoing
At around 5:45 a.m., Donald Morley Jr. was driving his 2001 Toyota SUV on southbound U.S. 17 as Edward Gibbons was driving northbound on the same road in his 2013 Jeep Wrangler, according to FHP.
It is not known why the 17-year-old Morley drifted into the northbound lane, but he struck Gibbons head on near Dickie Lane, FHP stated.
Gibbons, a 19-year-old DeLand resident, died at the scene and Morley, a Seville resident, died at the Florida Hospital in DeLand, confirmed FHP, which added that both were wearing their seatbelts.
As both vehicles were blocking the northbound lanes of U.S. 17, a Chevy pickup was going northbound when it struck Gibbon's Wrangler and overturned on a shoulder, FHP stated.
Then a Ford Escape was going northbound on U.S. 17 when it hit Morley's SUV, according to officials.
No information was provided for the two drivers of the Escape and pickup or their possible passengers.
The investigation is ongoing.