One of two people killed in vehicle crash likely was City of Ocala building official
Florida Highway Patrol troopers continue investigating a single-vehicle crash in Ocklawaha on Jan. 31 that claimed the lives of two people. One of the victims is believed to be a local government official.
Grief counselors and a pastor were at Ocala City Hall on Thursday to comfort employees who worked with Andrew "Andy" Babbitt. An email sent by a city official mentioned Babbitt by name as one of the people who died.
The email states that no memorial service or funeral arrangements have been announced. The city asks people to keep Babbitt's family in their thoughts and prayers.
As of Friday, FHP officials had not yet identified the two people who died in the crash. They said only that the victims were an adult man and a woman. The agency is working closely with the Medical Examiner's Office and family members. They would not elaborate beyond that.
Traffic fatality:Two people killed in single-vehicle crash along County Road 464C
Two-vehicle crash:North Marion High School student killed in two-vehicle wreck on foggy, rural road
According to City Manager Peter Lee, Babbitt worked for the city for eight years. Babbitt served as housing and rehabilitation inspector, senior building inspector and building systems coordinator. Lee said Babbitt's latest position with the city was chief building official.
"I'm so sorry for his family. He's loved by us. He loved the staff and the staff loved him," Lee said.
From their preliminary investigation, troopers said a car was northbound on County Road 464C when the driver failed to negotiate a right curve. The car veered off the roadway to the left. The driver overcorrected, and the vehicle went across the roadway and then crashed into a tree line.
Two people were inside, and the car, which was wedged between two trees, caught fire, FHP officials said. The people were pronounced deceased at the scene, located in the 9800 block of CR 464C.
A woman who lives near the crash site explains what she saw and did
Rhonda Allen, who lives less than a quarter of a mile from the crash site, told a Star-Banner reporter that her husband heard tires squealing. Allen said there was a pause, then more squealing and a "big boom."
She said she and her husband went to the scene. Allen said her husband banged on a car door, but no one answered. She said her husband was unable to open the driver's door. He was able to open the driver's side back door and saw someone in the driver's seat.
Allen said her husband could not tell if it was a man or woman because of the amount of smoke inside the vehicle. There was a fire below the vehicle, Allen said. A neighbor went for a fire extinguisher. Allen said there was no response from the individual seen in the car. She said her husband tried to put out the fire, but by then, the fire had engulfed the vehicle.
Allen said they backed away because of the fire and smoke. She said Marion County Fire Rescue officials showed up and they took control of the scene.
"We tried our best," Allen said, adding she wanted the family to know the victims were not alone.
City officials were concerned
City officials said Babbitt was 56. They said when Babbitt did not show up for work on Wednesday, they were concerned.
They said they called and texted Babbitt, but never heard back. Officials said they contacted local law enforcement agencies, trying to find Babbitt, when they were told about the crash.
"He was a great guy," Lee said.
Contact Austin L. Miller at austin.miller@starbanner.com or @almillerosb
This article originally appeared on Ocala Star-Banner: Ocala building official likely was one of two killed in car crash
