Law enforcement officials in Marion County say three people were killed Thursday when a stolen Sheriff's Office patrol vehicle crashed into a pickup truck in the 26700 block of East Highway 40.
According to an accident report from the Florida Highway Patrol, the crash happened at about 2:20 p.m.
A 33-year-old Ocala woman was reportedly at the wheel of a 2021 Ford Explorer that had been stolen from the Marion County Sheriff's Office and was attempting to flee law enforcement at the time, the FHP report said.
At some point during the pursuit, the woman lost control of the vehicle, veered into oncoming traffic and hit a 2016 GMC truck occupied by three people.
The woman in the patrol vehicle was killed, as were the 73-year-old driver of the pickup truck and a 72-year-old passenger. The pair, who were not identified, were listed as residents of Waterloo, S.C., and were both wearing seatbelts at the time of the crash.
A second passenger in the truck was taken to the hospital in critical condition.
The identities of the people involved were not released pending notification of their next of kin.
This is a developing story and more information will be posted as it becomes available.