Tuesday crash sends teen to hospital

A Tuesday afternoon crash at the intersection of U.S. Highway 441 and Interstate-75 sent one teenager to the hospital

The cause of a Tuesday afternoon accident in Alachua is still unclear.

According to witnesses who arrived shortly after the accident occurred, it appeared two cars were involved in the crash that sent a teen to an area hospital, but her condition was not clear.  Although the car she was driving sustained substantial front end damage, the teen’s father she would be okay.

The accident happened along U.S. Highway 441 in front of Wendy’s, according to the Alachua Police Department, which responded to the call at 12:56 p.m., but then turned the scene over to Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) officers.

Based on the scene of the accident, it appeared that an elderly couple driving a white late-model Honda minivan was exiting from the southbound ramp of Interstate 75 and attempting to enter the Wendy’s parking lot or adjoining gas station.  The teenager, driving a black late-model Nissan Altima, was traveling southbound on U.S. 441 before the collision.  The black car apparently struck the minivan’s passenger side front wheel area.

The force of the accident caused airbags to deploy in both vehicles which came to rest in the entry to the gas station.

FHP spokesman Lt. Dan Riordan said additional details about the accident were not yet available.