Zephyrhills Crash Leaves Three Dead and Two Children Seriously Injured
The triple fatal crash occurred at approximately 7:08 p.m. on Sunday, August 19, 2018 on County Road 54 west of Chantel Drive.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP), 30 year-old Elvin Benitez of Zephyrhills was traveling westbound on CR-54, west of Chantel Drive in a 2015 Mazda 6. He had two passengers in his vehicle; 11 year-old John Arel and 6 year-old Jasmine Benitez.
Dennis Wilkes, age 38 of Lakeland, was driving a 2005 Toyota Camry eastbound on CR-54
Troopers say that Benitez entered the eastbound lane to pass other traffic and entered into the path of Wilkes and his Camry.
As a result, the two vehicles collided head-on. Benitez was ejected from the vehicle when it overturned.
The Camry collided with a wire fence before coming to final rest.
Wilkes and his passenger, 27 year-old Chrissina Farmer of Winter Haven, suffered fatal injuries at the scene of the crash.
Benitez who was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash also died at the scene.
Both children with Benitez were transported to local hospitals with serious injuries.
The crash remains under investigation.
[gmap-embed id=”24721″]