Ocala man charged with DUI manslaughter in U.S. 441 South crash that killed woman, 72

Florida Highway Patrol troopers have charged a man with DUI manslaughter after a two-vehicle crash Friday night near the Belleview city limits.

Authorities said the man taken into custody is William Allen Hibshman of Ocala. The 54-year-old was booked into the county jail shortly before 5 a.m. Saturday, officials said. Hibshman was being held without bail.

In addition to the DUI manslaughter offense, Hibshman is charged with two counts of DUI with serious bodily injuries and one count of DUI with property damage.

According to troopers, Hibshman was driving a Ford pickup truck north on U.S. 441. A Toyota RAV4 sport utility vehicle also was northbound, in front of Hibshman.

The pickup hit the Toyota from behind, authorities said. The crash occurred at U.S. 441 and Southeast 92nd Loop.

James Lucas, spokesman for Marion County Fire Rescue, said his agency was notified about the crash at 7:39 p.m. Friday and arrived at 7:43 p.m.

Due to severe damage to both vehicles, Lucas said, rescue officials had to extricate those trapped. He said the extrication began at 7:46 p.m. and ended at 7:57 p.m.

In the SUV was a 76-year-old man and a 72-year-old woman, both from Clermont; and a 60-year-old woman and a 53-year-old man, both of Ocala, officials said. The 53-year-old man was the driver, FHP officials said. They were transported to HCA Florida Ocala Hospital, where the 72-year-old woman died.

The deceased was identified as Martina Velez. Authorities said the people in the SUV are related.

Hibshman was the lone occupant in the pickup truck, according to law enforcement officials. Except for Hibshman, officials said the others remain hospitalized as of Saturday afternoon.

It's unknown if speed was a factor. The investigation is ongoing.

Records show an Ocala Police Department officer issued Hibshman a speeding ticket on Aug. 6. On that ticket, the officer wrote: "Posted speed was 35/veh was observed traveling well over that speed. Attempting to catch up speeds got up to 90 mph/almost rear ended other veh due to speed/speed not captured on radar."

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No one was injured in that case. The infraction called for a $166 fine.

Court records show adjudication was withheld when Hibshman completed traffic school.

Contact Austin L. Miller at austin.miller@starbanner.com

This article originally appeared on Ocala Star-Banner: Ocala man charged with DUI manslaughter in U.S. 441 South crash that killed woman, 72