Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) troopers are currently investigating a fatal crash that occurred on December 31, 2023, at approximately 11:40 p.m. The incident involved two vehicles, a BMW 335XI and a Kia Optima.
The BMW was operated by a 20-year-old man from Grovetown, Georgia, heading southbound on US-19 at a high speed. A deputy from the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office reported the vehicle was traveling at 140 miles per hour with no lights on just moments before the crash.
The Kia Optima, driven by a 63-year-old Palm Harbor woman, was traveling westbound on Klosterman Road at the intersection of US-19 with a green traffic signal.
According to investigators, the driver of the BMW failed to obey a red traffic signal, entered the intersection, and collided with the Kia. The impact caused both vehicles to rotate along the west side of the roadway.
The BMW collided with a utility pole, resulting in the ejection of the driver. He was transported to AdventHealth North Pinellas where he died from his injuries.
The woman who was driving the Kia was transported to Bayfront Health St. Petersburg with non-life-threatening injuries.
The southbound lanes of US-19 reopened at approximately 5:30 a.m.