Bond set for driver in crash that claimed man’s life in Leesburg

Bond has been set for a driver in a crash that claimed a man’s life last week in Leesburg.

Gustavo Martinez Cortez, 36, of Eustis, was arrested Nov. 7 after the four-vehicle crash at County Road 44 and North Silver Lake Road when he rear ended a 2004 Toyota Corolla driven by a 42-year-old Eustis man, who died at the scene of the crash.

Cortez was arrested on a third-degree felony charge of driving without a license. He was initially held without bond. However, on Tuesday a judge set bond at $100,000. Cortez had not posted bond and remained behind bars this weekend at the Lake County Jail.

An arraignment is set for Dec. 5 in Lake County Court.

In 2014, Cortez was classified as an illegal alien and was arrested in Fruitland Park. It was indicated at the time that he would be deported.

The accident also involved a semi-truck driven by a 69-year-old male from Avon Park and a 2015 Mitsubishi Mirage driven by a 23-year-old woman from Deland. She suffered minor injuries and was transported to Advent Health Hospital in Tavares. Cortez and the semi-truck driver were not injured.