Crews are currently working to fix a sinkhole that opened up along a roadway in Kissimmee this morning.
According to the Kissimmee Police Department, a sinkhole opened up at the intersection of Denn John Lane and Sunburst Way on Friday, April 28. Emergency crews determined that the sinkhole was the result of a water main break.
As of 8:30 a.m., crews from the Toho Water Authority were working to repair the sinkhole.
The roadway will remain closed until the issue is resolved. Police say they do not have a time frame for the closure, but will provide an update once the roadway has reopened.
Carmen Milagros Ocasio, 76, of Fajardo, Puerto Rico passed away peacefully at her residence in Kissimmee, Florida on April 17, 2023 surrounded by her loving family. She is survived by her loving children: Roberto Ocasio, Ricardo Ocasio, Ivan Ocasio, Myra Diaz and Victor Manuel Ocasio; as well as extended family and friends.
Cemetery Details, Osceola Memory Gardens Cemetery. 1717 Old Boggy Creek Rd. Kissimmee, FL 34744.
Orange County Head Start will host a Community Health and Resource Fair this Saturday at Barnett Park.
The event takes place on April 29 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the park, which is located at 4801 W Colonial Drive in Orlando.
During the event, families will be able to learn about and enroll their students in Head Start, an organization that promotes school readiness for children and families.
The event will also feature family-friendly activities, including a petting zoo, trackless train rides, and a DJ playing music.
Cruz Antonio Rosario, 77 passed away on April 24, 2023 at home in Kissimmee surrounded by his loving family. He was the husband of Miriam Rosario and they shared 55 years of marriage.
Born in Juana Diaz, Puerto Rico he was the son of Cruz Rosario-Santiago and Gregoria Torres-Gomez. He worked at Slater Electric and Pall Corporation for many years and had enjoyed retirement since 2009.
He was a life long Yankees fan who played softball until the age of 75. He just loved everything about the game and could answer almost any trivia question you could think of. Cruz will be remembered as the life of the party, with his love of dancing and joking around. But most of all he loved his family, friends and his Glen Cove community.
He is survived by his loving wife Miriam; his children Cruz, Gloria (Nini), Yesenia, and son-in-law Brian. Also his grandchildren Peter, Cruz Jr., Kayla, Jasmine, Samantha, Brian Jr. and Fiorella, and his great granddaughter Noriel. His brothers Juan, Guillo, Cottman, Jose and his sisters Virgen and Isabel; along with his many loving nieces and nephews who he adored. He is predeceased by his mother, father, sisters Paca, Nelly and Carmita and daughter-in-law Carmen.
A viewing will be held on Thursday April 27, 2023 at 4-8pm at Porta Coeli Funeral Home 2801 E. Osceola Parkway Kissimmee, Florida 34743.
A Catholic Mass Funeral Service held on Friday April 28, 2023 at 11am at St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church 2750 E. Osceola Parkway Kissimmee, Florida 34743
An internment immediately following at Osceola Memory Gardens 1717 Old Boggy Creek Road Kissimmee, Florida 34744.
A 38-year-old man was arrested for leaving the scene of an accident after he was seen speeding to get in front of a van, slamming on his brakes, and causing a crash in the I-4 Express Lanes that resulted in a car flipping multiple times that seriously injured an Orlando man.
According to a report filed by the Florida Highway Patrol, the accident took place on the eastbound Express Lanes of I-4, near mile marker 92, at around 9:05 a.m. on Thursday, April 27.
A 2019 Dodge RAM 1500 was traveling eastbound on the highway, approaching East Central Parkway on the inside lane. The driver, who last later identified as Antoine T. Burnett, made an improper lane change to the outside lane, directly in front of a 2015 Ford Transit Van being driven by a 27-year-old Haines City man.
Burnett then allegedly slowed the Dodge RAM excessively in front of the Ford van, causing the Haines City man to swerve to avoid a collision. The van hit the back of the RAM, rotated, and entered the direct path of a 2017 Nissan Rogue being driven by a 39-year-old Orlando man.
The Orlando man attempted to swerve to the left in attempt to avoid a collision, but was unable. The front of the Nissan collided with left rear of the van. As a result of the impact, the van collided with the outside shoulder concrete wall barrier.
The Rogue overturned several times and came to final rest overturned on its roof in the eastbound lanes. The Orlando man was transported to South Seminole Hospital with serious injuries.
After the collision, Burnett fled the scene. A witness advised prior to the initial collision, Burnett was driving his vehicle aggressively, traveling above the posted speed limit, and making improper lane changes around traffic. The witness also advised that Burnett stopped his vehicle abruptly in the inside lane with no obstruction ahead, causing the crash with the van.
Antoine Burnett
The driver of the van advised that Burnett cut him off and intentionally slammed on the brakes, which caused him to swerve and collide with the rear of the Dodge RAM.
A Seminole County Sheriff’s Office deputy observed the Dodge RAM speeding in the eastbound lanes of I-4, just west of Lake Mary Boulevard at mile marker 98.
The deputy conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle and it matched the Be On Lookout (BOLO) description of a vehicle involved in a hit-and-run. The truck also had damage consistent with the collsion.
Burnett was arrested and booked into Seminole County Jail on multiple charges, including failure to stop or remain at a crash involving serious bodily injury, reckless driving causing serious bodily injury, and leaving the scene of a crash involving property damage.
It is with great sadness that we announce the death of Felicia Maurice Hinds of Apopka, Florida, who passed away on April 19, 2023, at the age of 59, leaving to mourn family and friends.
Visitation will be held May 5, 2023 at 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM (ET). At Zanders Memorial Chapel. 232 W. Michael Gladden Blvd. Apopka, FL 32703.
Service will be held May 6, 2023 at 11:00 AM (ET). At Freedom Ministries Church. 1348 Old Apopka Road. Apopka, FL 32703.
A 52-year-old Orlando man who worked as a corrections officer at a federal prison has pled guilty to providing contraband in the form of cigarettes to inmates at the prison.
James Edward Davis pled guilty to an indictment charging him with one count of providing contraband in prison, according to a press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida issued on April 27.
According to court records, Davis is a retired correction officer who worked for the Federal Bureau of Prisons. In 2019, Davis was working as a correctional officer at the United States Penitentiary II, Federal Correctional Complex in Coleman, Florida.
Between December 10, 2018 and February 1, 2019, Davis gave contraband to Coleman inmates in exchange for payment. Davis was paid $1,300 and $1,400 for two separate transactions in which he smuggled cigarettes in for an inmate.
When confronted, Davis told staff that he “really messed up,” had a “weak moment,” and “brought cigarettes in for an inmate.”
Cigarettes are prohibited by prison rules.
Davis faces a maximum penalty of six months in federal prison.
Firefighters from multiple departments across Seminole County were called to the scenes of two separate fires yesterday.
During one incident at 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 27, crews from the Seminole County Fire Department and Oviedo Fire Rescue responded to reports of a fire at a single-wide mobile home along Osceola Road in Geneva.
Smoke billowing from single-wide mobile home in Geneva on April 27
Upon arrival, firefighters encountered large plumes of smoke and flames. The fire was taken under control and inspectors conducted an investigation. There were no injuries reported by authorities.
During a second incident, crews from SCFD, Lake Mary Fire Department, and Longwood Fire Department responded to a two-story residential fire on Grand Valley Drive in Lake Mary.
A fire tore through a two-story home in Lake Mary on April 27 (Photograph courtesy of Norm Reyburn)
The fire was quickly taken under control by crews, who reported that there were no injuries.
Fire investigators were dispatched to the scene to determine the cause of the fire, and the Red Cross of Central Florida helped the residents that were displaced.
It is with great sadness that we announce the death of Walter Lewis Hixson of Apopka, Florida, who passed away on April 22, 2023, at the age of 65, leaving to mourn family and friends.
Visitation will be held on Saturday, April 29th 2023 from 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM at the New Hope Missionary Baptist Church. 927 S Central Ave, Apopka, FL 32703.
A funeral service will be held on Saturday, April 29th 2023 at 3:30 PM at the same location. A burial will be held on Monday, May 1st 2023 at the Florida National Cemetery (6502 SW 102nd Ave, Bushnell, FL 33513).
Scott Alexander Sawyer, 29, of Eustis, Florida passed away on April 22, 2023. Mr. Sawyer was born on October 19, 1993 in Orlando, Florida.
Mr. Sawyer is preceded in death by his grandfather Jerry Wayne Sawyer; as well as his uncle Jeremy Wayne Sawyer.
He is survived by his parents Sondra Lynn Sawyer and Haman Devose; daughter Chanelle Jade Sawyer; siblings Levi Devose and Kristofer Devose; grandmother Linda Sawyer; aunts Jolynda Sawyer and Tonya (Nicki) Bush Sawyer; cousins Kaden Sawyer and Ian Bush Sawyer; as well as his best friend and brother Anthonee Mosley.
He will be missed by his many loved ones and friends.
