3 teens dead after weekend crashes

Two Clermont teenagers and another from Apopka were killed in separate vehicle crashes.

Lewis Castro, 18, and Crystal Candelaria, 16, both of Clermont, died Saturday in a two-vehicle crash on U.S. Highway 27 in Polk County, just south of the Lake County line, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

They were riding in a 1993 Lincoln going south on U.S. 27 just after 4 p.m. when the driver, Kenny Hernandez, 18, made a left turn onto Polo Park East Boulevard, according to the FHP.

The car was hit by a northbound pickup driven by Todd Williams, 26, of Sebring, according to FHP reports. Williams, who was wearing a seat belt, suffered minor injuries.

Castro and Crystal were not wearing seat belts.

Hernandez and two other passengers in his car were treated for minor injuries.

The accident is under investigation. No one had been charged as of Monday afternoon, according to the FHP.

On Sunday, just before 5 p.m., Brandon Stark, 17, of Apopka was headed west on State Road 46 when his car veered off the road near Camp Challenge Road and struck a phone box, then hit a tree. The 1997 Mercury Mountaineer then returned to S.R. 46, spun around and overturned, according to FHP reports.

Brandon was airlifted to Orlando Regional Medical Center, where he died Monday.

Copyright (c) 2004, Orlando Sentinel | By Martin E. Comas, Sentinel Staff Writer
 

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