Deadly Crash On River Road Injures 4
Florida Highway Patrol reported a multi-vehicle crash that resulted in one death and four injured in Venice Friday evening.
The accident took place at roughly nine in the evening as twenty-seven year old John Asendorf the Third from Port Charlotte was driving northbound in the southbound lane as he negotiated a curve on River Road near the intersection with Winchester Blvd., in a Honda Civic.
At the same time Land O’ Lakes resident, fifty-four year old Andrew Duffen in his 2011 Honda Pilot SUV was driving south on River Road and entering the same curve.
The two vehicles quickly closed on each other. In an effort to avoid a head-on crash Duffen turned sharply to the right, however there was not enough time to react and the two vehicles collided as they drove into the curve from opposite directions.
The violent collision resulted in Duffen as well as two other passengers, fifty four year old Diane Duffen and eighteen year old Rachel Duffen sustaining serious injuries. A third passenger 82 year old Cecili Sovyrda from Jacksonville was killed by the crash and died at the scene.
Andrew Duffen was taken to Sarasota Memorial Hospital in serious condition and Diane and Rachel Duffen were taken to Englewood Hospital for treatment also in serious condition.
Asendorf, the driver of the car in the wrong way, was taken to Sarasota Memorial in critical condition.
FHP has stated that the crash is still under investigation.
About the Author
Education
Bernard F. Walsh graduated from the University of South Florida before receiving his law degree from Cumberland School of Law in 1978. During law school, he was selected to serve as a research clerk and intern for a Federal Judge and the U.S. Attorney's Office. He was awarded The National Book Awards for Constitutional Law and Professional Responsibility during law school.
Experience
Bernard Walsh devoted the next three years to trial work for the State of Florida. This provided him with the opportunity to concentrate on his trial abilities, with numerous high profile trials concerning serious felony crimes. Since 1982, he has exclusively practiced personal injury law and helped accident victims in and beyond Sarasota and Manatee Counties in Florida.
Mr. Walsh has been listed in Avvo, an attorney rating site, as Superb. LexisNexis/Martindale-Hubbell, an attorneys rating publication, has rated Mr. Walsh as very high legal ability and ethical standards. Mr. Walsh is listed in National Trial Lawyers Association as one of the Top 100 Trial Lawyers, and was inducted into Southern Trial Lawyers Association. He has also won the largest playground recoveries, one of the top three motorcycle recoveries, and the second largest daycare center recovery in the State of Florida. He is also a member of the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum. The Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum is a group of attorneys who have achieved career case successes that include multi-million dollar recoveries, settlements and/or verdicts.
