Florida Highway Patrol: Jacksonville tractor-trailer driver dies in Leesburg crash after slumping over wheel; rig ends up in pond

Highway fatality SR 44 LeesburgState Road 44 at Southwind Cove Way as shown in the map was the scene of a deadly tractor-trailer accident Tuesday night in Lake County.

LEESBURG --  A 63-year-old tractor-trailer driver died at Leesburg Regional Medical Center after crashing his rig into a pond after slumping over the wheel from an a possible sudden medical condition that had him travel across the southbound lanes of State Road 44 earlier tonight, the Florida Highway Patrol said.

The driver was identified as Larry J. Stokes of Jacksonville, who was transported to the hospital from the 5:30 p.m. crash scene on S.R. 44 at Southwind Cove Way just outside Leesburg in Lake County.

Here is a synopsis of what happened as summarized by FHP Sgt. Kim Montes, the agency's spokeswoman: Stokes was traveling northbound, in the inside lane of S.R. 44 (South Street). Due to possible a medical episode, the driver slumped over the wheel.

Montes continued: The tractor-trailer traveled across the southbound lanes of 44 and onto the west shoulder of the roadway, where the rig crashed through a barbed-wire fence before coming to a final rest in a pond. He was pronounced dead a short time after emergency transport to Leesburg Regional.