A 78-year-old woman died as the result of an accident that occurred shortly before noon Wednesday in Alachua County.
Shirley Arpen of Melrose had been a passenger in a car driven by 73-year-old Daniel J. Beach, also of Melrose, according to an accident report from the Florida Highway Patrol.
Beach’s vehicle had been eastbound on State Road 26 just east of North East 221 street in Alachua County when it crossed the centerline into the west traffic lane and then exited State Road 26 on the north shoulder. Beach’s vehicle then re-entered State Road 26 and was struck by an SUV driven by 82-year-old Norma J. Duane of Keystone Heights.
Arpen was transported to the University of Florida Hospital at Gainesville where she later died from her injuries. Beach, Norma Duane and a passenger in her SUV, 83-year-old John C. Duane also of Keystone Heights, were transported to the hospital in Gainesville, all with serious injuries.
