Young Drivers Lacked Licenses In Deadly Tampa Crash
By Smith & Stallworth
Oct. 21, 2011 10:51a
Facts Unclear In Late Night Collision in Tampa
After a tragic automobile collision left one teenager dead and four youths severely injured, law enforcement officers continue to probe for answers.
The victim, an eighteen-year-old girl visiting with her sister from West Virginia, was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident by emergency responders. Arriving on the scene of the car crash at approximately 9:26 p.m. on June 29th, medical personnel were able to save the lives of the other four passengers in the vehicle, who were transported to Tampa General Hospital for treatment.
Police spokespeople say they are still working to put together all the pieces of the puzzle, and are still unclear on who is at fault for the collision. Investigators say that the injured young people were riding in a 1999 Toyota Solara that evening, and were attempting to exit Interstate 4 at the East Columbus Drive exit when they were struck by another vehicle driven by a nineteen-year-old, who suffered only minor injuries in the aftermath.
Investigators Learn Neither Driver Was Properly Licensed
As police continue to unearth more information concerning the accident, authorities have discovered that both young drivers were illegally operating vehicles without licenses.
The driver of the Solara, twenty, had unpaid legal fines suspending him from receiving a license. He had, however, been improperly issued a learners permit the previous year by the Florida DMV, who were fooled by the use of his middle name on the application. The other driver had simply never received a license, and had been arrested for driving without one only a week before the incident.
Survivors of the accident say they do not remember the events of the hours prior to the automobile crash, forcing police to attempt to piece together the events through other means. It is still unclear if either driver was intoxicated, with authorities awaiting the results of toxicology reports. No charges have yet been filed against any party.
A Tampa Personal Injury Firm Could Help
Serious automobile accidents leave countless Americans wounded every year. It is your right and responsibility to hold the negligent party accountable for the actions that led to your personal injury. At Smith & Stallworth, our firm has the experience and skill necessary to aid you in seeking justice. A Tampa personal injury lawyer from our legal team can aggressively pursue a comprehensive settlement or judgment on your behalf. We are available twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week!
Contact a Tampa automobile accident attorney to receive a free consultation today!