Woman Walking With Three Children Killed in Tarpon Springs Crash
On Saturday September 22, 2018, at approximately 6:08 a.m., members from the Tarpon Springs Police Department responded to a vehicular crash involving a pedestrian on U.S. Hwy 19 just south of the intersection of Spruce St.
Upon arrival, officers observed a red Nissan pick up truck facing in a southeast direction in the through lane closest to the shoulder. They also found 27 year-old Tymira Latrel Leverson of Tarpon Springs laying off the side of the road in the grassy area, and three small children standing in the grassy area, next to her.
Officers immediately began administering first aid, due to the pedestrian being unresponsive, having a slow pulse and shallow breathing.
Officers eventually lost the pulse and started performing CPR. Paramedics arrived and assumed the living saving measures.
During the investigation it was determined Leverson was pushing a baby stroller with the two year old in the stroller, and the 2 six year olds walking next to her.
They were all traveling southbound on U.S. Hwy 19, just south of the Spruce St. intersection.
Leverson was straddling the fog line between the shoulder and the right hand turn lane for Pine St. The stroller was being pushed, by Leverson and was very close to the fog line, on the grass side.
The two six year olds were walking side by side on the paved shoulder, between the stroller and the grass.
The driver of a 2008 Nissan pick-up truck, 33 year-old Joseph Vitale of Port Richey had just entered the turn lane to make a right turn onto Pine St., when he did not see any of the pedestrians and struck the adult female only.
The impact caused the stroller to flip over and the 2 year-old was ejected, but not struck by the vehicle.
Vitale immediately stopped at the scene, assisted and has cooperated with investigators.
The pick-up truck had minor front-end damage that was consistent with striking a pedestrian.
Leverson was transported to Florida Hospital of North Pinellas as a trauma alert from a serious head injury. She was later flown to Tampa General Hospital in critical condition.
Tarpon Spring Police reported that Leverson died from her injuries at 8:44 a.m.
The 2 year-old girl has been identified as Deava Dixon, the 6 year-old male has been identified as Tre’Mont Triplett, and both are her biological children.
The other 6 year-old female has been identified as Layla Lewis and Leverson was her legal guardian. Deava has been released from the hospital and all three children were turned over to the decedents mother Ms. Stacey Leverson of Clearwater.
No further information is being released at this time, as the investigation is still ongoing. Any other witnesses are asked to call Investigator Matthew Geer