published: Tuesday, September 01, 2009

DeSoto County accident claims the life of 23-year-old Sebring man

By TREY CHRISTY

trey.christy@newssun.com

A young Sebring man was killed Friday when his car veered off the road south of Arcadia and struck a tree.

Jose Luis Martinez, 23, was driving a 2002 Pontiac Grand Prix northbound on SW Welles Avenue, located in the community of Nocatee, at 10:45 p.m. when he came to a curve in the road.

The car left the road for unknown reasons and went onto the northbound grass shoulder, rotating counterclockwise, a report from the Florida Highway Patrol stated.

The front of the car then struck a tree.

Martinez was transported to Lee Memorial Hospital that night but died from injuries sustained in the crash the next day at 9:30 p.m.

Martinez was the only person in the Pontiac. No other cars were involved in the accident.

The FHP are awaiting test results to see whether the accident was alcohol related.