LAKE COUNTY, FLA. — A man on trial for killing another motorist while driving without a license was convicted by a jury who never laid eyes on him.
William E. Wilhelm, 61, of Eustis failed to show up for his trial, so the trial judge revoked his bond and issued a warrant for his arrest in the Nov. 23, 2023 death of Nicholas LeBlanc on Jan. 14. He was arrested the next day.
The accident happened near State Road 46 and Hojin Street near Mount Plymouth at 9:17 a.m., according to the Florida Highway Patrol. Wilhelm was driving a pickup truck that that collided with Leblanc’s S-10 pickup. Both men were taken to a hospital in Sanford where Leblanc died.
While talking to an investigator Wilhelm reportedly exclaimed that his license was suspended for not paying a ticket for not stopping at a red light.
Authorities were told that the car Wilhelm was driving was stolen. They returned to the hospital. “Wilhelm had removed all of his IVs and fled from the hospital shortly after we departed,” according to the arrest report.
Troopers tracked him down and took him to the Lake County jail once he was able to be transported.
Besides the license/death charge, he was also charged with motor vehicle theft and driving on the wrong side of the road. The jury found him not guilty of the theft charge, and authorities stated that they would address the third charge as a civil matter at sentencing.