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After Lake County Crash, Driver’s Son Waits Along Road and Is Killed By Car

On a dark, curved stretch of County Road 44, Steven Hayes was driving his pickup with his son Nathan, aged 10, when he saw a tree blocking both lanes near Eustis, Lake County. After thunderstorms, the pavement was wet and Hayes had trouble stopping and avoiding the downed tree. Swerving the truck to the left, Hayes hit a tree near Eldorado Drive.

According to the Florida Highway Patrol spokeswoman, Kim Montes, both occupants were okay at that point but Hayes had to move the vehicle away. He told his son to stand on the shoulder on the opposite side of the road while calling a friend to report the crash.

Minutes later, a Chevrolet Lumina entered the same curve, with Richard Sineath, aged 73, behind the wheel. At the last moment, Sineath saw the tree and Hayes's truck, swerved to the right and struck Nathan.

Hayes and his friend performed CPR on the injured boy until an emergency crew was able to transport him to a nearby hospital. The boy died soon after this Florida crash.

Montes said that charges are not expected to be filed and clarified that Hayes had done what was reasonable. "He put his son in what he thought was a safe place. It's just a misfortune," she added. No one else was injured.

The attorneys of Johnson & Gilbert send their most heartfelt sympathy to the family and friends of Nathan Hayes.

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