Tampa Police Investigate Triple Fatality of the Selmon Expressway
Updated 8/12/2017
TAMPA POLICE RELEASE NAMES OF VICTIMS IN TRIPLE FATALITY ON SELMON EXPRESSWAY
The driver of the car who perished in the August 10th crash on the Selmon Expressway has been positively identified. The two passengers who also died at the scene have been “presumptively identified.” The three deceased include a husband and wife and their daughter. All three were in the white Hyundai that was struck by another eastbound car on the Selmon Expressway, which touched off a series of crashes that resulted in three fatalities and an arrest.
The crash occurred on Thursday, Aug. 10, at approximately 4:12 p.m. on the Selmon Expressway roughly a half mile east of the W Euclid Avenue entrance ramp. A 2014 Kia, which witnesses said was traveling at “high rate of speed,” attempted to pass at least two vehicles going in the same direction (eastbound) and struck the rear of a Hyundai occupied by three people. The Hyundai began to spin into the grass median and entered the westbound lanes into oncoming traffic, where the Hyundai was struck by a Jeep and an Infiniti SUV. The Hyundai came to rest in an embankment along the westbound lanes, fully engulfed in flames. The driver of the Kia that caused the crash fled the scene without stopping.
A Seffner man who arrived shortly after the crash ran to the Hyundai and joined others in extricating the driver, later identified as 41 year-old Luiz Felipak of Tampa, from the vehicle. The driver and two other occupants of the Hyundai vehicle included Felipak’s wife and daughter. Â 29 year-old Rita Felipak and 8 year-old Giorgia Felipak.
The driver of the Jeep, Tracy Lee Kelly, 43, of Seminole – suffered serious, but non-life threatening injuries as a result of the crash and was transported to an area hospital. The driver of the Infiniti – 20 year-old Jerry Camilo Lamberti of Brandon, reported no injuries.
The driver of the Kia that caused the crash was later located by responding officers. The driver, 29 year-old Amber Perera exhibited signs of impairment and was taken into custody. Perera has been charged with three counts of DUI Manslaughter, DUI with Serious Bodily Injury, Leaving the Scene of a Crash Involving Death, and Destruction of Evidence. The Destruction of Evidence charge stems from the defendant’s attempt to conceal the vials of blood that were drawn as evidence related to the DUI investigation.
The portion of the Selmon Expressway from W Euclid Avenue to Bay to Bay Boulevard remained closed until approximately 2:30 a.m. Friday.
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Tampa Police continue to investigate a traffic crash that involved several vehicles and resulted in three fatalities. The driver of one of the vehicles lost control of the car and touched off a chain reaction of crashes. That driver, 29 year-old Amber Nicole Perera, of Brandon, Fl, left the scene and was apprehended minutes later and currently is in custody.
She is facing the following charges
DUI Manslaughter (3 counts), DUI Serious Bodily Injury, Hit and Run Failure to Remain Scene Involving Serious Injury/Death, Tampering with Evidence
The crash occurred at approximately 4:12 p.m. on Thursday, August 10, 2017 on the Selmon Expressway roughly a half mile east of the W Euclid Avenue entrance ramp. An eastbound car lost control and veered into the grass median, causing a second eastbound car to cross the grass median into the westbound lane, into oncoming traffic. The car that lost control continued driving eastbound on the Selmon Expressway and was located minutes later. The second car entered the westbound lane, struck two westbound vehicles, and burst into flames. All three occupants of the eastbound car died at the scene.
The occupants of one of the westbound vehicles was uninjured. The driver of the other westbound vehicle was transported to an area hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
Detectives will continue to investigate the complex crash site well into the night. The identities of the occupants of the various vehicles are not being released at this time. The identities of the deceased will be released after they are positively identified and next of kin is notified.
The crash resulted in the closing of the Selmon Expressway from Euclid to Bay to Bay for several hours, as the crash site encompassed both the eastbound and westbound lanes. That portion of the Expressway remains closed at this time.