Central Florida’s 2025 was marked by unexpected events and headline-grabbing stories all year long.As we near the close of 2025, it’s clear this year was anything but ordinary. Here’s a look back at the moments and stories that made it unforgettable across Central Florida.It snowed in Florida! – Jan. 21In January, North Florida was hit by an Arctic blast, bringing a surprise no one anticipated: snow. According to the National Weather Service in Tallahassee, some areas received 8 to 10 inches, breaking the previous record of 4 inches.Videos and photos show the fluffy white stuff accumulating on the ground. Debris rains down on Florida after rocket explosion – March 6SpaceX launched another Starship test flight from Texas. The Starship lost contact within minutes of the launch.The spacecraft came apart and exploded after launching, according to SpaceX officials.Debris from the wreckage could be seen streaming across the skies of Florida, causing ground stops at airports across the state.Some Florida residents even captured the moment debris fell from the sky as they were driving.Woman accused of drowning dog in airport bathroom – March 30A Central Florida woman was arrested after allegedly killing her dog and leaving it in a bathroom at Orlando International Airport in 2024. Alison Lawrence didn’t have the required paperwork to board the dog and was told she couldn’t take Tywinn with her.The Orlando Police Department said officers responded to the airport on Dec. 16 about a dead animal found by an employee inside the women’s restroom.Officers were taken to a trash bag where dog accessories and the dead dog were found.Osceola County Sheriff Marcos Lopez arrested – June 5In June, shockwaves rippled through the Central Florida community after one of its most prominent law enforcement figures was arrested.Authorities allege that Lopez participated in an illegal gambling operation, receiving campaign contributions and personal payments in exchange.The organization reportedly generated more than $21.6 million in illicit profits.Video footage captured the moment Homeland Security officials placed Lopez in handcuffs.Man killed trying to save turtle on Florida Interstate – July 7A 77-year-old man was killed after he was hit by a car while trying to rescue a turtle on Interstate 95 in Sebastian, the Florida Highway Patrol said.Troopers said the 77-year-old man from Vermont was walking across I-95 trying to save a turtle while a driver tried to slow down to avoid hitting the man, but lost control after being hit by another car behind them.As a result, the driver hit the 77-year-old man before crashing into a fence off I-95. Florida woman dragged underwater by 11-foot gator – July 22A 27-year-old woman was hospitalized after surviving a gator attack while swimming in the St. Lucie River in July.The woman was standing in waist-deep water with her dog when the approximately 11-foot alligator bit the woman’s hand. The alligator quickly pulled her underwater before releasing her.She suffered multiple broken bones and lacerations in her right hand and right wrist. Man killed after falling tree crushes car as he was driving on road – July 17A man is dead after a tree fell on his car and crushed it while he was driving on a road in Wildwood, police told WESH 2.It happened near the villages, and not far from the Coleman Federal Correctional Complex in Sumter County.Witnesses told police a tree fell out of the tree line and onto the car as the man was driving. Apopka mural goes blank after controversial design – Sept. 1Just last week, the mural in downtown Apopka was a shining beacon, full of color and hope that Apopka’s downtown is making a comeback.But on Labor Day, it went blank. Painted over, ending a copyright controversy with a roller and a couple of cans of white paint.What happened?Well, a nonprofit organization called Main Street Apopka commissioned a local artist to paint a mural on the wall. The group had a very specific view of how it wanted it to look, so the local artist thought he had permission to paint it that way. But he didn’t.Man dies after riding Epic Universe roller coaster – Sept. 17A man, 32-year-old Kevin Rodriguez Zavala, was found unresponsive after riding on the Stardust Racers roller coaster, according to Universal Orlando officials. He was then transported to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead.The Orange County Medical Examiner said “multiple blunt impact injuries” are the cause of death, and it has been ruled an accident.Gator poaching ring busted in Central Florida – Sept. 25FWC investigators said a group of men would troll the river system and grab mostly small gators to harvest their meat and hides. According to investigators, at least 14 alligators were taken by the four in April and May.Capturing alligators without proper authorization is a third-degree felony.Nearly 50 birds crushed to death by Central Florida truck driver – Oct. 13The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission launched an investigation after a truck driver was accused of running over nearly 50 birds in Brevard County.The report explained that a person drove a truck through a large group of birds, killing 35 at the scene, while 13 others were euthanized due to injuries.Only one bird survived.Plane collides with car during crash landing on Florida Interstate – Dec. 8A video captured the dramatic moment when a plane collided with a car driving along Interstate 95 in Brevard County. The driver of the vehicle was identified as a 57-year-old woman. She was transported to a nearby hospital with minor injuries.The pilot, a 27-year-old male, and the passenger, a 27-year-old male, were not injured during the crash.Related: WESH 2’s Good News | Feel-good stories from 2025
Central Florida —
Central Florida’s 2025 was marked by unexpected events and headline-grabbing stories all year long.
As we near the close of 2025, it’s clear this year was anything but ordinary. Here’s a look back at the moments and stories that made it unforgettable across Central Florida.
It snowed in Florida! – Jan. 21
In January, North Florida was hit by an Arctic blast, bringing a surprise no one anticipated: snow. According to the National Weather Service in Tallahassee, some areas received 8 to 10 inches, breaking the previous record of 4 inches.
Videos and photos show the fluffy white stuff accumulating on the ground.
Debris rains down on Florida after rocket explosion – March 6
SpaceX launched another Starship test flight from Texas. The Starship lost contact within minutes of the launch.
The spacecraft came apart and exploded after launching, according to SpaceX officials.
Debris from the wreckage could be seen streaming across the skies of Florida, causing ground stops at airports across the state.
Some Florida residents even captured the moment debris fell from the sky as they were driving.
Woman accused of drowning dog in airport bathroom – March 30
A Central Florida woman was arrested after allegedly killing her dog and leaving it in a bathroom at Orlando International Airport in 2024.
Alison Lawrence didn’t have the required paperwork to board the dog and was told she couldn’t take Tywinn with her.
The Orlando Police Department said officers responded to the airport on Dec. 16 about a dead animal found by an employee inside the women’s restroom.
Officers were taken to a trash bag where dog accessories and the dead dog were found.
Osceola County Sheriff Marcos Lopez arrested – June 5
In June, shockwaves rippled through the Central Florida community after one of its most prominent law enforcement figures was arrested.
Authorities allege that Lopez participated in an illegal gambling operation, receiving campaign contributions and personal payments in exchange.
The organization reportedly generated more than $21.6 million in illicit profits.
Video footage captured the moment Homeland Security officials placed Lopez in handcuffs.
Man killed trying to save turtle on Florida Interstate – July 7
A 77-year-old man was killed after he was hit by a car while trying to rescue a turtle on Interstate 95 in Sebastian, the Florida Highway Patrol said.
Troopers said the 77-year-old man from Vermont was walking across I-95 trying to save a turtle while a driver tried to slow down to avoid hitting the man, but lost control after being hit by another car behind them.
As a result, the driver hit the 77-year-old man before crashing into a fence off I-95.
Florida woman dragged underwater by 11-foot gator – July 22
A 27-year-old woman was hospitalized after surviving a gator attack while swimming in the St. Lucie River in July.
The woman was standing in waist-deep water with her dog when the approximately 11-foot alligator bit the woman’s hand. The alligator quickly pulled her underwater before releasing her.
She suffered multiple broken bones and lacerations in her right hand and right wrist.
Man killed after falling tree crushes car as he was driving on road – July 17
A man is dead after a tree fell on his car and crushed it while he was driving on a road in Wildwood, police told WESH 2.
It happened near the villages, and not far from the Coleman Federal Correctional Complex in Sumter County.
Witnesses told police a tree fell out of the tree line and onto the car as the man was driving.
Apopka mural goes blank after controversial design – Sept. 1
Just last week, the mural in downtown Apopka was a shining beacon, full of color and hope that Apopka’s downtown is making a comeback.
But on Labor Day, it went blank. Painted over, ending a copyright controversy with a roller and a couple of cans of white paint.
What happened?
Well, a nonprofit organization called Main Street Apopka commissioned a local artist to paint a mural on the wall. The group had a very specific view of how it wanted it to look, so the local artist thought he had permission to paint it that way.
But he didn’t.
Man dies after riding Epic Universe roller coaster – Sept. 17
A man, 32-year-old Kevin Rodriguez Zavala, was found unresponsive after riding on the Stardust Racers roller coaster, according to Universal Orlando officials.
He was then transported to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
The Orange County Medical Examiner said “multiple blunt impact injuries” are the cause of death, and it has been ruled an accident.
Gator poaching ring busted in Central Florida – Sept. 25
FWC investigators said a group of men would troll the river system and grab mostly small gators to harvest their meat and hides.
According to investigators, at least 14 alligators were taken by the four in April and May.
Capturing alligators without proper authorization is a third-degree felony.
Nearly 50 birds crushed to death by Central Florida truck driver – Oct. 13
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission launched an investigation after a truck driver was accused of running over nearly 50 birds in Brevard County.
The report explained that a person drove a truck through a large group of birds, killing 35 at the scene, while 13 others were euthanized due to injuries.
Only one bird survived.
Plane collides with car during crash landing on Florida Interstate – Dec. 8
A video captured the dramatic moment when a plane collided with a car driving along Interstate 95 in Brevard County.
The driver of the vehicle was identified as a 57-year-old woman. She was transported to a nearby hospital with minor injuries.
The pilot, a 27-year-old male, and the passenger, a 27-year-old male, were not injured during the crash.