Water Damage Restoration in Kissimmee, FL

Kissimmee, FL (June 8, 2025) – A fatal crash occurred early this Sunday, June 8, at the intersection of Pleasant Hill Road and Sun Cove Drive in Kissimmee. The crash was reported at 12:04 a.m. and, fortunately, there is no roadblock in place as the scene has been cleared.

The crash resulted in a fatality, with one individual confirmed dead at the scene. Emergency responders arrived quickly to assist, but unfortunately, the victim did not survive. Local authorities are currently investigating the cause of the crash. At this time, further details regarding the incident are not available.

Our thoughts and condolences go out to the family and loved ones of the individual who lost their life in this tragic accident.

Fatal Crashes in Florida

Fatal accidents, especially on roadways like Pleasant Hill Road in Kissimmee, are devastating events that underscore the importance of safe driving practices. Factors such as speeding, distracted driving, or impaired driving are often contributors to such tragic accidents. Drivers are urged to remain alert and avoid distractions while operating a vehicle to prevent these types of incidents.

In Florida, where tourism and traffic congestion can lead to unpredictable driving conditions, it is vital to always drive defensively, particularly in intersections like Sun Cove Drive and Pleasant Hill Road. Following speed limits, avoiding distractions, and never driving under the influence are crucial steps to reducing the risk of fatal crashes.

If you or someone you know has been involved in a fatal accident, it is important to consult with an attorney to navigate the legal process, particularly in cases involving insurance claims and potential wrongful death lawsuits. An experienced lawyer can help ensure that the rights of the victim’s family are upheld.

For more information or to receive help after an accident, contact Local Accident Reports.

Note: These posts are created solely for the use of Local Accident Reports. We have not verified the information in these posts as the information is gathered from secondary sources. If you have personal knowledge that the information contained in these posts is inaccurate, please contact Local Accident Reports immediately so we can make the necessary corrections or remove the story.

Disclaimer: We are providing this information to the general public as a resource to use in the event you or a family member are injured in a similar incident. Every effort is put forth to honor the victims of accidents, and hope the information presented helps others avoid the same type of accidents in the future. The photos depicted in these posts are not representative of the actual accident scene. Please contact Local Accident Reports at (888) 657-1460 to be connected with an attorney in your area who will answer any legal questions you may have.

Property owners in Kissimmee will soon start paying a special fee to help their fire department recruit additional firefighters and allow them to work less-rigorous schedules.

After a public hearing Tuesday evening that lasted more than an hour, commissioners voted 4-1 to assess all property owners $105 per parcel of land plus 56 cents per $1,000 of improvements made.

“I can’t compromise public safety to save a dollar,” Commissioner Angela Eady said. “I can’t do that to someone that’s willing to risk their lives to save a life.”

Commissioner Carlos Alvarez cast the sole dissenting vote, saying it would “be a burden to homeowners.”

The assessment will raise the approximately $6 million needed annually to fund 49 new positions (firefighters and support staff) in the Fire Department. The funds will be part of the department’s budget for the fiscal year starting in October.

Fire Chief Jim Walls said Monday in an interview with the Orlando Sentinel that the funds will allow hiring roughly 39 firefighters — an entire second shift — and double the total number in the department. Expanding the ranks of firefighters will allow them to work a 42-hour workweek instead of the current 56 — making it the first department in Central Florida to adopt that schedule.

Walls said adding personnel is not about improving response times — the rapidly growing city of just over 70,000 has already worked to add new fire stations on the growing east side — but about recruiting firefighters.

“We’ve had a hard time hiring and Kissimmee isn’t any different from the rest of the state,” he said. “So this will help us with recruitment, retention, morale, mental and physical health.”

Roughly a dozen residents spoke during the meeting — with most opposing the fee — but three city firefighters said their mental health and the quality of service they provide would deteriorate if they keep working 56 hours a week.

Joshua Clark, a KPD firefighter and president of its union, said the city is growing quickly and so are the department’s calls.

“Every year the population rises, the buildings go higher, the calls get more complex and we meet these challenges head on time and time again,” Clark said. “But to keep doing that to stay ahead of the curve we need the proper tools and resources. The fire fee gives us exactly that.”

But Ana Mendez, a mother of two and first-time homeowner, told commissioners she opposes the assessment because it would cause her financial hardship. Mendez said she understands firefighters protect the community but asked if taxes she currently pays could support the department’s effort.

“I’m a survivor of domestic violence and left that situation to go to a shelter,” she told them in Spanish with Mayor Jackie Espinosa translating. “To finally have a house is a big achievement for me, it’s not fully paid for because I just got it, but the implication to have this fee as an additional expense will not be easy for me.

“For me this won’t be easy and I’m sure that it won’t be for other women who are in my same situation.”

The assessment comes as a bill in the Legislature, House Bill 929, encourages a 42-hour workweek, Walls said. The legislation, in combination with Kissimmee’s decision to adopt it, will likely push other cities and counties to implement the shorter workweek.

“It’s just a matter of when people do make that switch,” he said. “Now it only encourages, so it’s not mandated … and so that to me it usually starts as encouraging but at some point down the road it usually will lead to having to do it.”

Most of the time, we hear about Disney's upcoming plans to build new theme parks and resorts. One of them is in the works, set to open up in Abu Dhabi. Sadly, on the flip side, we don't hear much about Disney's abandoned areas. The reality is that they do exist, and a location in particular continues to waste away, just an 11-mile drive from Disney World in Florida.

A recent video on YouTube went viral, showing the reality of the Kissimmee resort. It was once a bustling location for Disney visitors. Today, it has been reclaimed by nature, while also serving as a haven for those experiencing homelessness.

We'll take a closer look at what the resort looks like today and how former visitors reacted to its current state. In addition, we'll delve into its plans and explore the possibility of its revival.

The location was a dream for Disney visitors, at the corner of I-4, US-192 and Disney's main entrance. The Kissimmee, Florida, resort thrived in the 1970s and 1980s, filled with Disney World visitors. The Orlando Sun Resort was built in 1972 by the Corolando Corporation. The plan was to include not only hotel rooms, but restaurants, a convention center, and the tallest observation tower in Florida (which didn't happen).

Financial troubles slowed down the momentum, and the resort was eventually sold to the Hyatt Corporation. Once again, despite Hyatt's efforts to create a budget-friendly hotel, the resort continued to lose money.

The resort never recovered, and as we saw in the recent "Exploring with Josh" video on YouTube, the area remains untouched and abandoned, as if it had never existed. Its current condition is worse than it was before, with hazardous areas still not being blocked off. To make matters worse, it has turned into an area for people experiencing homelessness.

Josh revealed in his recent video, "You can see this was once a glamorous entrance, there's a lake right there. Now, right here, there's trash everywhere, even no trespassing signs. Palm trees are cracked down."

The most disheartening aspect of its current situation is that nobody seems to care about the abandoned resort.

"No one cares," Josh added. "This is honestly and for the cops, they're really strict in Florida. For them not to care about this, it really blows my mind. When I came here 7 years ago, this place was chained, gardened, fenced. What happened?"

Josh still sees the potential of the location, given the proximity to Disney and the size of the land. The same holds for other Disney enthusiasts, who are heartbroken over its current state.

Over on YouTube, over 1,000 comments shared their thoughts on Disney's abandoned resort. Some users shared their fond memories, while others couldn't seem to shake off what it has become just a couple of years later.

Users Wrote:

Despite its current state, the former hotel brought lots of joy during its time. Here's to hoping some sort of revival takes place.

After closing in 2021, the Orlando Sun Resort was listed for $74 million. Its most recent sale came in 2021. According to Orlando Park's Guy, the property was purchased by a New York company, aided by Osceola County.

The Orlando Sun Resort website is still up and running, last updated back in 2012.

Despite the purchase, no work is being done, although the YouTube video mentioned that plans are in place to revive the location.

"A Miami-based company put in an offer to buy it last year. They're going to level it, build two resorts. In the middle of it, there's going to be a whole shopping area with a ferris wheel."

For now, this is just speculation, but here's to hoping that something comes of it in the near future.