Deland, FL : Ex-candidate, family, die in crash on Sunday, January 22nd 2017

congressional candidate Bill McCullough was killed, along with his wife and one of their sons, in a head-on collision with a tow truck Jan. 22 in Marion County.

A celebration of their lives will be at 10 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 28, at First Assembly of God, 551 S. Kepler Road in DeLand. The family would like attendees to bring a handwritten letter to the service of favorite memories of Bill, Renee and Ryan to share with future generations.

According to the Florida Highway Patrol, McCullough, 61, his wife, Renee, 56, and their son Ryan, 31, all of DeLeon Springs, were eastbound on State Road 326 shortly before 6 p.m. Sunday when the tow truck driven by Travis Lee Johnson, 31, of Ocala, ran off the road for an unknown reason, then returned to the pavement, swerving into the McCulloughs’ lane.

The truck had been westbound before smashing into the McCulloughs’ SUV, according to troopers.

The McCulloughs were dead at the scene; Johnson was severely injured and was taken to Ocala Regional Medical Center, the FHP said.

It was unknown whether the cause of the crash had anything to do with Sunday night’s stormy weather.

“I do know that we had cloudy conditions at the time,” said Lt. Patrick Riordan of the Florida Highway Patrol. “I do know the road was wet.”

Riordan added, “We’re going to be doing a very in-depth and thorough investigation, but this thing could take 60, 90, 120 days, depending on how long lab reports take.”

“This is just surreal; no words, just emotions,” said retired Air Force Chaplain Lewis Long, who attended Stetson University with McCullough and grew to know the man as both of their careers progressed.

“In a few words, he’s real people. His whole personality is one of transparency and congeniality,” Lewis said. “Many of us will remember him for his willingness to engage for our betterment … think of all the contributions he has made for our community and our country.”

McCullough had never before run for elected office when he qualified in 2016 to run for the U.S. House of Representatives District 6 seat held by Republican Ron DeSantis. McCullough won the Democratic primary over two other candidates.

But, with a minuscule budget and almost no support from the national Democratic Party, the DeLeon Springs owner of an investment advisory service was overwhelmed by DeSantis in the Nov. 8 election.

DeSantis, who had about $4.5 million in his campaign war chest, got almost 59 percent of the vote, compared to about 41 percent for McCullough, who had about $25,000 in campaign funds.

Local Democrats had hoped McCullough would give them a congressional seat for the first time in decades. Since 1992, Volusia County had been divided among several congressional districts, some of which extended into Orange and Duval counties.

Then, following redistricting after the 2010 U.S. Census and years of political and legal battles, Volusia became the population center of District 6, forcing DeSantis to move from his St. Augustine home to keep the district seat.

At the time of the fatal crash, the McCullough family was returning from celebrating Renee McCullough’s birthday.

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Ex-candidate, family, die in crash