A three-vehicle crash involving a Summerfield man early Friday morning claimed the life of a Dunnellon motorist.
Jacob D. Altom, 19, of Summerfield, was seriously injured when his 2015 Ford F-150 was hit head-on and then overturned in the 5:55 a.m. crash on SW State Road 200. Altom’s vehicle was heading west when it collided with an eastbound 2004 Chevrolet Cavalier driven by 32-year-old Ryan F. McCallops, of Dunnellon. McCallops’ vehicle also hit a 2003 GMC Yukon driven by 32-year-old Sara M. Molina, of Ocala, a Florida Highway Patrol report states.
McCallops, who was wearing a seatbelt, suffered fatal injuries. He was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash, which was about one mile east of SW 115th Avenue, the report says, adding that it’s unclear if alcohol played a factor in the crash.
Molina, who also was wearing a seatbelt, received minor injuries. Her SUV was the first one struck by McCallops’ car and both overturned. Molina’s vehicle ended up on the southside grass shoulder, while McCallop’s car came to rest obstructing the eastbound lane of SW State Road 200.
Both Altom and his passenger, 29-year-old Emmitt R. Gore, of Ocala, also were wearing seatbelts. Altom was transported to Ocala Regional Medical Center in serious condition, while Gore suffered minor injuries.
According to a Facebook post from Altom’s mother, Belinda, of Ocala, he was released from the hospital late Saturday afternoon. She said he suffered a dislocated hip, is extremely sore and can’t yet walk or put pressure on his leg.
A GoFundMe account was set up to help pay for McCallops’ burial expenses. As of Monday night, $1,750 had been donated to the account, which also will go toward his fiancée and unborn child, a boy that’s due Dec. 10, the account page said.
