1 dead, 2 critical after crash on SR-29 in Hendry County

Reporter: Justin Kase Writer: Jack Lowenstein
Published: Updated:
Crews respond to a deadly crash involving two vans on SR-29 at A Rd. south of LaBelle in Henry County Friday, Feb. 26, 2021. Credit: WINK News.

A crash in Hendry County on Friday left one man dead and two others injured.

It happened at about 3:15 p.m. on SR-29 near A Road south of LaBelle.

The Florida Highway Patrol says two vehicles were involved, and a 21-year-old passenger in one vehicle was killed.

Troopers say a 61-year-old man was driving a van westbound on A Rd. toward SR-29, while a 50-year-old man was driving a van with the 21-year-old in the passenger’s seat northbound on SR-29 toward A Rd.

Credit: Maxar Technologies.

The report states the 61-year-old driver drove his van into the path of the van driven by the 50-year-old. The 21-year-old was killed in the crash. It was confirmed he used a wheelchair. The two respective drivers were listed as having critical injuries.

A few houses down from the intersection where the crash happened, we spoke to a woman who lost her husband to a car crash that also happened at the same intersection about 20 years ago. She said the day’s scene brought back painful memories, especially after hearing there was loss of life.

“I just pray and hope that it’s not some small kid,” Judy Olieares explained. “Rear-ended him, and he swirled around and rolled over two or three times. He ended up in my culvert out there.”

Olieares knows the pain will never fade for the family missing their loved one. She still feels the pain of loss years later.

“You can’t help but think about it once in a while because I was with him over 20 years,” Olieares said.

Olieares and others we spoke to said crashes on this stretch of SR-29 are far too common. They want people to be more careful driving in this area.

“I guess they’re in a hurry to get home or something, and they just go,” Olieares said.

Correction: State troopers originally said a teenage boy was killed in the crash. It was since confirmed the victim was an adult.

Note: Florida Highway Patrol no longer names victims of crashes or anyone involved in its crash reports, citing Marsy’s Law. 

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