Fire rescue crews, along with the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office and the Florida Highway Patrol, responded to a crash on southbound East Lake Road near Commercial Drive.
The crash occurred at approximately 1:40 p.m. on Thursday, May 16, 2024.
Due to the extent of the injuries, an air transport unit was dispatched to the scene. The patient’s rapidly deteriorating condition necessitated their transport by ambulance to Mease Countryside Hospital with grave injuries.
The victim later died at the hospital.
Due to the crash, East Lake Road was closed in both directions for several hours between Village Center Dr./Ridgemoor and Lansbrook Parkway/Cypress Woods Blvd. The northbound lanes reopened at approximately 4:10 p.m.
All lanes reopened at approximately 6:12 p.m.
According to Troopers, the 21-year-old male driver from Clearwater, of a Chevy Tahoe, was traveling northbound in the outside lane East Lake Road.
A Chevy Camaro, operated by a 39-year-old woman from San Antonio, Texas was traveling northbound in the inside lane East Lake Road.
A Ford Expedition, operated by a 59 year-old New Port Richey woman was traveling southbound in the inside lane of East Lake Road.
A forth vehicle. operated by 54-year-old male from New Port Richey, in a H2 Hummer, was traveling southbound in the outside lane of East Lake Road.
South of Eagle Cove Boulevard, the driver of the Chevy Tahoe made an improper lane change in an attempt to avoid stopped traffic.
As a result, the left side of the Tahoe collided with the right side of the Camaro. Following the crash, the Chevy traveled north of the scene and came to rest facing west on Eagle Cove Boulevard as the Camaro traveled into the southbound lanes of East Lake Road where it was struck by the Ford Expedition.
The Camaro then rotated into the path of and was struck by the H2 Hummer.
Transported to an area hospital, the driver of the Camaro died from injuries suffered during the crash.
Additional information will be posted here at IONTB.com once received from the Florida Highway Patrol.