A fatal three-vehicle crash in St. Petersburg early Sunday morning left one man dead and two others with life-threatening injuries.
According to the St. Petersburg Police Department, the crash occurred on May 31, 2026, at approximately 1:15 a.m. on 18th Avenue South near 29th Street South.
Investigators say a Mercedes sedan driven by 43-year-old Cleveland Sanders of St. Petersburg was traveling westbound on 18th Avenue South when, for reasons that remain under investigation, the vehicle crossed the median and collided head-on with an eastbound Nissan sedan.
The Nissan was driven by 27-year-old Clifford Washington of St. Petersburg. A passenger in the Nissan, 26-year-old Dy’Jean Roberts of St. Petersburg, was also inside the vehicle at the time of the crash.
After the initial collision, a third vehicle, an Oldsmobile driven by 50-year-old Terrell Burney of St. Petersburg, was traveling westbound on 18th Avenue South and failed to stop, striking the front of the Nissan after the crash scene had stabilized.
Roberts was transported to Orlando Health Bayfront Hospital, where he later died from injuries sustained in the crash.
Both Sanders and Washington suffered critical injuries and were transported to Orlando Health Bayfront Hospital before being airlifted to Tampa General Hospital with life-threatening injuries.
Burney was evaluated at the scene and released without hospitalization.
The investigation remains ongoing.