A Florida Highway Patrol trooper ticketed in a crash in 2014 was at the wheel of a patrol car that struck and killed a 73-year-old Belleview man early Wednesday morning in Marion County.
Raul Umana, 25, had been at the wheel of a patrol car at 12:15 a.m. on U.S. Hwy. 441 at SE 74th Terrace when he struck and killed Walter B. Strauch, who was walking north in the southbound lane, according to an accident report from FHP. Strauch was pronounced dead at the scene by Marion County Fire Rescue.
Umana was on duty at the time of the accident. The investigation is ongoing.
Umana had been the wheel of a patrol car in 2014 when he attempted to make a U-turn on Interstate 75 in Marion County. Three children were airlifted from the scene of the crash that resulted from Umana’s improper turn. He was later ticketed as a result of the accident.