Woman Survives Rollover Crash After Hitting 9-Foot Gator on Florida Road

Maslin Kurtz was hospitalized for four days after her Toyota 4Runner crashed into a pole in Sarasota County.

Apr. 17, 2026 at 7:04pm

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An extreme close-up photograph of a damaged car sensor or headlight lens, lit by a harsh, direct camera flash against a pitch-black background, conceptually illustrating the aftermath of a collision with a large animal on a rural road.A violent collision with a large alligator leaves behind shattered evidence of the dangerous encounter on a rural Florida road.Fruitville Today

A Manatee County woman named Maslin Kurtz survived a rollover crash after hitting a nearly 9-foot alligator on Fruitville Road in Sarasota County, Florida. Kurtz's Toyota 4Runner crashed into a pole, and she was hospitalized for four days, spending two of those in the intensive care unit with fractures to her spine, sternum, and shoulder blade.

Why it matters

Collisions between vehicles and wildlife, especially large animals like alligators, can be extremely dangerous and highlight the need for increased awareness and safety measures on rural roads in Florida, which has a significant alligator population.

The details

Kurtz was traveling on Fruitville Road and Cowpen Lane before sunrise on Easter Sunday when she hit the nearly 9-foot alligator, causing her vehicle to crash off the road and into a pole. She was 'crushed between the roof and the steering wheel' and had to be hospitalized for four days, including two in the ICU, with multiple fractures.

  • The crash happened around 6 a.m. on Easter Sunday (April 17, 2026).
  • Kurtz spent four days hospitalized, including two in the intensive care unit.

The players

Maslin Kurtz

A Manatee County woman who survived a rollover crash after hitting a 9-foot alligator on a rural road in Sarasota County, Florida.

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What they’re saying

“I thought I hit something and blew a tire just because it ripped my car off the road.”

— Maslin Kurtz

“I was just praying that somebody would see me. Obviously, I saw lights go by, so I thought I was behind a bush or something. I didn't know where I ended up.”

— Maslin Kurtz

“I'm just grateful that I'm here and I give all the glory to God.”

— Maslin Kurtz

What’s next

Kurtz is expected to make a full recovery after wearing a brace for 4-6 weeks and undergoing physical therapy.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the dangers that wildlife can pose to drivers, especially in rural areas of Florida with large alligator populations. It serves as a reminder for increased awareness and safety measures to prevent such collisions and protect both drivers and wildlife.