Fatal head-on crash on Harborview Road leaves 12-year-old dead and Port Charlotte man critically injured

Corbin Sutter Accident Lawyers Wrongful Death

A devastating head-on collision in Charlotte County late Saturday night has taken the life of a 12-year-old girl and left a Port Charlotte man fighting for his life. According to the Florida Highway Patrol, the crash unfolded after a pickup truck involved in an earlier collision left that scene and later crossed the centerline on Harborview Road into oncoming traffic.

Investigators report that the 25-year-old driver of a 2003 Mazda B300 pickup had been involved in a crash at the busy intersection of Kings Highway and Veterans Boulevard earlier in the evening. No injuries were reported in that initial collision. Authorities state that the pickup then left the area and traveled southbound on Interstate 75 at a high rate of speed.

The vehicle later exited onto Harborview Road and continued westbound. At the same time, a 44-year-old Port Charlotte man was driving a 2001 Chevrolet Malibu eastbound on Harborview Road with a 12-year-old passenger. As the vehicles approached a curve from opposite directions, the westbound pickup crossed the centerline while negotiating the bend.

At approximately 9:58 p.m., the pickup collided head-on with the sedan.

FHP reports the 25-year-old pickup driver and the 12-year-old passenger were pronounced deceased at the scene. The 44-year-old driver of the sedan was transported with critical injuries. The investigating officer is listed as Corporal M. Sill, and the case number is FHP26ON0081940.

Anyone with information regarding the earlier crash at Kings Highway and Veterans Boulevard is encouraged to contact the Florida Highway Patrol.

What families should know after a fatal head-on car crash in Florida

In the first days after a fatal crash, families are overwhelmed. There is grief, shock, and often confusion about what happens next — especially when insurance companies begin calling.

One question we often hear in situations like this is simple and painful:

If the driver who caused the crash died, does that mean there is no legal path forward?

In many cases, the answer is no. A civil claim does not automatically disappear because the at-fault driver is deceased.

How Florida wrongful death and injury claims work after a fatal car accident

Every case depends on specific facts and available insurance, but in a crash like this — involving the death of a child and a critically injured survivor — several legal issues immediately arise.

Claims when the at-fault driver has died

Even when a negligent driver has died, claims may still proceed through available auto insurance coverage and, if necessary, through the driver’s estate.

In Florida, certain claims require the appointment of a personal representative through the probate process before a formal claim can proceed against a deceased individual’s estate. Identifying the available bodily injury coverage, umbrella policies, and vehicle ownership structure becomes critical in determining what compensation may be available.

Wrongful death rights under Florida law

Florida’s Wrongful Death Act, codified in Florida Statute § 768.21, outlines the damages recoverable when a death is caused by negligence. Through the estate’s personal representative, certain surviving family members may pursue compensation for funeral expenses and other legally recognized losses.

You can learn more about how Florida wrongful death claims are structured under state law.

In most Florida auto negligence cases, lawsuits must be filed within two years. Missing that deadline can permanently bar recovery, which is why early clarification of rights matters.

When uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage becomes central

In a crash involving both a fatality and a critically injured survivor, available insurance limits can be exhausted quickly. If the at-fault driver carried limited bodily injury coverage — or none at all — uninsured or underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage may become a primary source of recovery.

In Florida, UM coverage may be written as “stacked” or “non-stacked.” Stacked coverage can allow limits to be combined across multiple insured vehicles under a policy, potentially increasing available coverage. Non-stacked policies restrict recovery to the single vehicle involved. The distinction can significantly affect the total compensation available in a catastrophic crash.

For additional explanation, see how uninsured motorist coverage works in Florida car accident cases.

As Port Charlotte attorney Corbin Sutter notes, civil claims and criminal investigations operate independently under Florida law. The absence of criminal charges — or the death of a driver — does not automatically eliminate civil liability.

Our attorneys have tried serious injury and wrongful death cases in Florida courts when insurers refused to resolve claims fairly. In past high-speed, centerline collision cases, insurance limits were disputed among multiple injured parties, requiring careful evaluation of coverage layers and estate procedures.

Why evidence matters in high-speed head-on car crashes

In a collision like this, determining how and why a vehicle crossed the centerline may involve vehicle data downloads, crash reconstruction findings, roadway geometry analysis at the curve, and toxicology results. When injuries are catastrophic, early documentation can be essential in establishing liability and clarifying insurance responsibility.

Local legal guidance for families after a fatal car accident in Southwest Florida

All Injuries Law Firm has served Port Charlotte, Fort Myers, and surrounding Southwest Florida communities for more than 35 years.

If your family needs help understanding insurance coverage, legal deadlines, probate procedures, or next steps after a catastrophic collision, our offices in Port Charlotte and Fort Myers are available to answer questions.

A final note

This article is provided for general information only and is not legal advice. Official findings may evolve as investigators complete their work.

Families affected by serious crashes often benefit from getting clear, reliable information before making long-term decisions involving insurance claims or estate matters.