Residents on Villa City Road in Groveland have joined forces to campaign for better safety on the highway that is constantly busy with semi-trucks using it as a cut through from Highway 50 to US 27.
A group of 50 residents met with Commissioner Doug Shields and police officers at an event June 6 organized by resident Christopher Lazzari and his fiancée Kelly Lisandrillo.
Lisandrillo narrowly escaped death in September 2023 when she was forced off the road on her way into Groveland. She is still suffering from the effects of the incident where she suffered a concussion and numerous broken bones.
“Villa City Road has become highly dangerous,” said Lazzari. “The bottom line is that the trucks are too big to be using the road; it wasn’t made for all this extra, semi-truck traffic.
“Kelly got lucky - she could easily have died in the accident. We need to take measures to stop these vehicles coming down the road before anybody gets killed. There are young families who live here – we can’t wait until another serious accident.”
According to the Florida Highway Patrol there have been 61 reported accidents on Vila City Road between Jan 1 2022 and the day of the meeting.
On September 17 last year, Lisandrillo left her house in her son Brandon’s Toyota Tundra truck to pick him up from school. Usually, she would take her car but this time, her son was insistent that she take his truck. Turns out, he probably saved her life.
“I was travelling south around a corner when a semi-truck, who I believe was going faster than the speed limit, drove into my lane suddenly and I was forced off the road,” she said.
“I ran down a slope and ended up in a tree. I suffered a severe concussion, two broken ribs, a fractured foot, two broken vertebrae in my back, and I was out cold.”
Luckily, a good Samaritan saw the whole thing and he dragged her out of the car. The truck driver disappeared and despite the efforts of police, he has never been found.
“I’ve just had surgery to repair my ankle, so this is ongoing for me,” said Lisandrillo. “I wear a brace around my foot every day, I struggle to wear shoes because of the pain and I need more therapy. We can’t let this happen to anyone else – I survived but someone else might not be so lucky.”
Linda Cardoza lives two doors down from Christopher and Kelly. She has lived in the area for five years and has experienced the traffic issues, including being run off the road by a semi-truck just two weeks ago.
“I would never have lived here if I’d have known that this was going to be an issue in the future,” said Cardoza. “Just recently I got run off the road by a massive semi trying to turn; it’s ridiculous.
“I support a ban on any trucks with more than two axles and a reduction in the speed limit to 35 mph near residences. Extra police patrols would be good, too. Our safety is a massive issue.”
In November 2023, Domenico Cammarata Jr was driving his truck towards Highway 27 along Villa City Road when a semi-truck making a turn ran him off the road.
Cammarata, who lives in a subdivision off Villa City Road, said: “It was frightening. My choice was either to turn into the truck or be forced off the road and hopefully don’t get hurt.
“I chose to drive off the road and the entire rim of my truckwas cracked. I think I got lucky because it could have been so much worse. Now I get nervous every time I drive on the road; I am 100% behind this campaign.”
Since Lazzari and Lisandrillo have been campaigning, they have received favorable support from the Florida Highway Patrol.
Chief Cris Blackmon of the FHP told Christopher: “The Florida Highway Patrol has stepped up patrol in this area due to complaints from drivers and citizens regarding reckless behavior by commercial motor vehicle drivers.”
County Commissioner Doug Shields said that he was confident that he can help Lazzari’s campaign and find a solution.
He said: “I can help with this very pressing problem, but the final solution will depend on what my fellow Board of commissioners say after our staff have submitted their final reports.
“We need to get this done as soon as possible. I quit using this road myself because it is too narrow and just not safe so these residents have my full empathy and support.”
The next step is that once all investigations and subsequent reports have been carried out by Lake County, Commissioner Shields will get it on the county agenda at a future meeting.
“If we treat it as an agenda item, then the residents can have as much time as they need to explain the situation,” said Commissioner Shields. “Right now, we’re looking at August 27to schedule the item on our agenda.”
Anyone wishing to help should contact Commissioner Doug Shields ondouglas.shields@lakecountyfl.govor attend the county commission meeting in Tavares on August 27.
