Funeral Set for Florida Highway Patrol Trooper Killed in I-75 Crash

The Florida Highway Patrol has released its preliminary findings of an investigation into a crash that killed three people, including a state trooper, on Interstate 75 in Ocala.
 
Investigators say the driver of a sports utility vehicle applied brakes ``abruptly'' to avoid hitting traffic already stopped for another crash on Saturday afternoon. The SUV was then sideswiped by a pickup truck, which went into the median where 30-year-old trooper Chelsea Richard, 57-year-old John Duggan and 55-year-old George Phillips were standing.
 
Richard and Duggan died at the scene. Phillips died hours later.
 
The Ocala Star-Banner reports the investigation could take several months to complete.
 
The funeral for the trooper is scheduled for 2 p.m. Thursday in Ocala. She had been with the highway patrol for nine years.
 

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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