Ocoee commissioner fighting for change after deadly crash

Although the fatal March 11 traffic crash occurred just outside the city limits of Ocoee, City Commissioner George Oliver III said it hit too close to home and he doesn’t want there to be a “next time.”

Five people died — sisters, Antoinette Oliver, 30, and Liza Jackson 25; and their three young children, Chloe Brent, 5, Olivia Lundy, 3, and Antonio Brent, 5 months — when the vehicle in which they were riding was struck as it made a left-hand turn off Clarcona-Ocoee Road onto Gaymar Drive. The drivers of both vehicles were treated at nearby hospitals for minor injuries.

More than 100 people flocked to the site, which was marked by balloons, stuffed animals and other memorial items, on Sunday to hold a candlelight vigil in remembrance of the five lives lost.

Commissioner Oliver, who is not related to the victims, took the opportunity to speak to several news outlets present.

“I was on the phone just the day before with Orange County,” he said, trying to get traffic lights and speed control devices installed on that stretch of road between State Road 429 and U.S. 441.

“These accidents happen on almost a daily basis,” George Oliver said.

Another two-vehicle crash was reported at this intersection of Clarcona-Ocoee and Gaymar around 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 16. No injuries were reported.

“The reason that I got involved is because I have been on a crusade with Orange County and they’ve helped me along the way but just not as quickly or as urgently as I would care to,” he said. “I mentioned about how it is so dangerous. Our small part of that role is from the 429 up to the city limits, just at Apopka-Vineland Road. It happened about a half mile outside our city limits.”

The crash site also was the scene of a fatal accident Jan. 26; 35-year-old Adriana Patricia Sopena was killed when the vehicle in which she was a passenger attempted to make the same left-hand turn onto Gaymar from Clarcona-Ocoee. According to reports, the crash happened in front of Sopena’s house; her family witnessed the Oliver crash.

Both fatal crashes remain under investigation, and charges are pending, FHP spokesperson Lt. Kim Montes said.

“What does it take to put in a light?” he said. “What does it take for speed control? What does it take to slow folks down on these roads here? What is it going to take for the county to do something about this major stretch of highway?”

George Oliver said Orange County conducted a warrant study to determine if a light was needed at that intersection.

“Obviously it came back that it was needed there,” he said.

George Oliver intends to invite Anthony Oliver — the father and grandfather of the victims — to speak at an upcoming Ocoee City Commission meeting.

“I want Pastor Oliver to come to our City Commission meeting so we as the city of Ocoee can pressure the county to move faster at getting a light at Ingram Road and Clarcona-Ocoee Road,” the commissioner said. “Because it’s just a matter of time.”

He said the light has been approved and funded but no installation date has been set.

“I have a sign on the corner of Ingram Road and Clarcona-Ocoee Road that says, “Traffic light coming soon,” and it’s been about four months now,” George Oliver said. “And we want to know when the light is coming there. When it comes to the saving of human lives, I don’t believe we should have to get in line.”

He hopes to lower the speed limit along that stretch. It currently is 45 mph.

Meanwhile, Pastor Oliver is grieving the loss of five members of his family and the thought of never having daddy-daughter opportunities with his girls. He spoke at Sunday’s vigil.

“Just imagining that final impact and what my kids were going through and my grandkids (were) saying, and I couldn’t be there to protect them,” he said. “Anytime anything happened, they (were) always calling for me, ‘Papa, Papa.’ I can imagine them saying, calling my name. … That’s what hurts. That I wasn’t there.”

His wife, Shawn Oliver, who is battling terminal cancer, was driving the Hyundai when it crashed. She learned the details of the crash days later. She is devastated by the deaths and is pleading with the county to add traffic lights and speed bumps outside the neighborhood.

A GoFundMe account has been set up for Anthony Oliver, and donations can be made by visiting bit.ly/3tnG0t9.

“We have five lives we can never get back,” George Oliver said. “They’re never going to come back to us. … There’s five voices we’re not going to have anymore .… We have the power, as government, we have the power to do what we want to do, to cut through the red tape and cut through all the engineering surveys and studies. … I will not rest until the county does something on this road about speed control (and) traffic lights.”

“One minute my babies are here, and the next minute they’re gone,” Anthony Oliver said. “I’m just keeping my arms and my hands in His hands as he leads Shawn, as he leads our family through this tragedy. … I know I’ve got five angels … I just miss my babies.”