A person is in critical condition after they were recovered from a car crash into a retention pond after coming off the exit ramp from the East-West Expressway onto Alafaya Trail in east Orange County on Monday morning, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
The single car crash occurred at 6:35 a.m., and sent a 41-year-old Orlando man to Florida Hospital East, FHP said.
“Quick-action by witnesses and Orange County Fire Rescue prevented this from being a recovery instead of a rescue,” said FHP Lt. Channing L. Taylor in an email.
The FHP reported the man was driving a red Mazda CX5 eastbound on the exit ramp, but failed to negotiate a left turn, traveled through the intersection across all lanes of northbound and southbound Alafaya Trail, struck the raised curb on the east shoulder and then drove into the retention pond.
Emergency responders were able to remove both the vehicle, and the man was the only occupant, FHP said.
“It is unknown if he experienced a medical episode prior to the crash,” FHP stated. “This crash remains under investigation.”
