'Outlaw' country music singer, Akron native David Allen Coe hospitalized following Florida crash

OCALA, Fla. - Country music singer and Akron native David Allen Coe has been hospitalized after being hit by a tractor-trailer when he ran a red light in Ocala, Fla., according to a police spokesperson.

Ocala Police Department Lt. Corey Taylor said Tuesday the colorful, infamous "outlaw" country singer was traveling eastbound on State Road 40, also known as West Silver Springs Boulevard, in a 2011 Chevrolet Suburban around 1:30 a.m. when he approached the intersection of South Pine Avenue and failed to stop for a red light.

A 1996 Peterbilt tractor-trailer semi, driven by Robert Johnson, 59, of Calif., was traveling northbound on South Pine Avenue when he collided with the passenger side of Coe's vehicle.

The collision sent Coe's Suburban into a parking lot on the northeast corner of the intersection, Taylor said.

Johnson's semi flipped on its slid and into a traffic control box before a cement light pole. The secondary crash resulted in a diesel fuel and fresh produce spill, Taylor added.

Coe, Johnson and Johnson's passenger, Lisa Mead, 49, also of Calif., were transported to local hospitals in what are believed to be non-life threatening conditions.

Taylor said fire rescue crews were forced to use extrication equipment to remove Coe from the Suburban.

"The process associated with clearing the intersection, cleaning up the diesel spillage and restoring the traffic control lights will be lengthy," Taylor said.  

Taylor said Coe was driving from Tampa back to an Ormond Beach, Fla., home.

A preliminary investigation showed Coe was at fault and has been cited for violation of a traffic control device.

Coe is perhaps best known for his songs "The Ride" and "You Never Even Called Me By My Name," among others.