PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. – A New Port Richey woman and man are in serious condition after their car slammed into a utility pole early Tuesday morning, shutting down a major Pinellas County roadway for nearly two hours.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, the crash occurred at 7:05 AM on May 19, 2026. A 59-year-old woman from New Port Richey was driving a Ford Taurus northbound on US-19. As she approached Cypress Drive in Pinellas County, she lost control of the vehicle, veered off the road, and crashed directly into a utility pole.
The impact left both the driver and her passenger, a 44-year-old New Port Richey man, with serious injuries. First responders called in medical helicopters, and both individuals were airlifted from the scene to an area hospital for emergency treatment.
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The crash completely blocked traffic on the busy Pinellas County corridor while emergency crews worked to clear the scene and handle the damaged utility pole. The Florida Highway Patrol confirmed that all lanes of US-19 were finally reopened to traffic by 8:45 AM.
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