A collision snarled traffic late Sunday afternoon on U.S. Hwy. 27/441 in Leesburg after a pickup truck collided with a small SUV in the front of the strip center housing ALDI and Harbor Freight Tools.
The crash, which happened at about 4 p.m. near the intersection of Indian Trail just north of Picciola Road, left the Chevy pickup on its side blocking the median and one southbound lane. The SUV, which had heavy front-end damage, came to rest in the left southbound lane.
Several motorists stopped to help the victims, with one climbing onto the overturned pickup to pry open the driver’s door.
The pickup’s driver, who works at the Breakfast Station restaurant in the plaza, climbed from the vehicle on his own. He was complaining of severe neck pain and dizziness when Leesburg police officers and fire department paramedics arrived on scene a short time later. Several employees from the restaurant came out to check on him moments after the crash.
The female driver of the SUV said she wasn’t hurt but was very shaken. She complained of a minor pain in her rib cage area that she attributed to the seat belt holding her in place during the impact. She was trying to call her employer to tell them what happened moments after the crash.
Airbags in the pickup truck deployed, filling the cabin area with a smoky white dust. The SUV’s airbag did not deploy.
The crash is still under investigation.
