The collision near the U.S. 27 and County Road 316 junction left a 5-year-old dead at the scene and an unborn baby lost after emergency surgery.
OCALA, Fla. — A holiday-weekend collision between a westbound SUV and a southbound motorhome on U.S. 27 in rural Marion County killed a 5-year-old boy and an unborn baby just before 6 a.m. Saturday, as firefighters reported dense fog across the crossroads.
Florida Highway Patrol said the SUV, driven by a 25-year-old pregnant woman from Old Town, veered off the right side of County Road 316 near the junction, then entered U.S. 27 and struck the motorhome’s side, flipping the SUV. The boy, traveling with family from Ohio in the RV, died at the scene. Eleven other RV occupants suffered non-life-threatening injuries. The pregnant driver was hospitalized in critical condition; relatives said doctors attempted to deliver but the baby did not survive. The case remains under active investigation, with troopers evaluating weather, speed, sightlines and the condition of rumble strips and signage.
Witnesses said visibility dropped to a few car lengths in the minutes around the crash. A neighbor who lives along the corridor said she has counted several wrecks at the intersection and wants bigger warnings for drivers. “It’s a dangerous stretch when the fog sits low,” she said. Troopers are interviewing passengers from the motorhome, canvassing nearby homes and businesses for cameras, and requesting emergency radio logs to fix the timeline. They are also reviewing whether all RV occupants used restraints; investigators said the ages in the coach ranged from 5 to 59.
School staff in Springfield, Ohio, confirmed the child, known as Tucker, attended Enon Preschool. The group in the motorhome had been on a family trip. The RV was headed south toward Ocala on a two-lane segment where traffic picks up around daybreak as commuters, delivery trucks and winter visitors merge on U.S. 27. The area’s flat pastureland and ponds commonly produce early morning fog in December. The sheriff’s office helped close lanes as tow operators uprighted the SUV and cleared debris. Hospitals in Ocala reported receiving multiple patients with bruises, cuts and suspected fractures, according to first responders.
Highway Patrol procedure calls for a preliminary narrative within days, followed by a full reconstruction report once diagramming, measurements and any vehicle data downloads are complete. If mechanical issues are possible, the SUV and motorhome may be inspected by certified examiners for brake or steering problems. Prosecutors will assess facts for any traffic citations or charges only after the final review. Officials have not alleged impairment. A public update is expected after the New Year holiday week. Funeral and memorial plans for the boy were not yet announced Monday.
The crash scene quieted by afternoon, leaving fresh gouge marks in the pavement and a torn section of roadside fence. A pair of small bouquets and a stuffed animal appeared near a mailbox along County Road 316. “Everybody’s shaken up,” the neighbor said, recalling the sound of sirens slipping in and out of the fog. A tow truck operator described the air as “wet and heavy” while winching the SUV onto a flatbed. By dusk, cool mist drifted across the pasture again as deputies removed flares and reopened the highway.
State troopers continued their reconstruction Monday evening and planned to release additional details later this week after more interviews and evidence reviews.
Author note: Last updated December 30, 2025.