Marion County, FL : Gainesville teen involved in fatal crash near Ocala on Tuesday, 13th November 2018

A 72-year-old Ocala man was killed and two other people were seriously injured in two separate traffic crashes in Marion County Tuesday evening.

In the first accident, which occurred around 5:50 p.m., Roberto Villa was killed when a teenage driver from Gainesville struck the motorized wheelchair he was using, according to Florida Highway Patrol officials.

Villa and bicycle rider Ulises Perez Ortiz, 34, of Ocala, were going home together on Southwest 90th Street just west of County Road 475A. The bicycle was behind the wheelchair as they traveled west in the eastbound lane at the edge of the road.

A 2006 Scion X, being driven by 18-year-old Riley Sterner, collided with the motorized wheelchair and the bicycle, throwing both men onto the south shoulder of the road, according to FHP. Troopers said the Scion, which was eastbound, ran off the road and into the bushes on the south shoulder.

Villa and Ortiz were transported to Ocala Regional Medical Center, where Villa died. Ortiz was listed in serious condition. He told troopers they were coming from a gas station and were on their way home.

Sterner was not injured, officials said. Troopers said they recovered a small amount of marijuana and drug paraphernalia in the vehicle and are awaiting toxicology results.

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