ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – A late-night, multi-vehicle crash in St. Petersburg left one person dead and two others fighting for their lives early Sunday morning.
The chain-reaction collision began around 1:15 a.m. on May 31, 2026. Cleveland Sanders, 43, was driving a Mercedes sedan westbound on 18th Avenue South. As he approached 29th Street South, Sanders suddenly crossed the median for unknown reasons, slamming head-on into an eastbound black Nissan sedan.
Inside the Nissan were 27-year-old driver Clifford Washington and front-seat passenger Dy’Jean Roberts, 26, both residents of St. Petersburg.
Moments after the initial impact, a third vehicle became involved. Terrell Burney, 50, was driving a westbound Oldsmobile on 18th Avenue South when he failed to stop, striking the front of the already-damaged Nissan.
Emergency crews rushed the victims to Orlando Health Bayfront Hospital in St. Petersburg. Roberts succumbed to his injuries at the hospital and was pronounced dead.
Sanders and Washington both sustained critical injuries in the crash. Due to the severity of their conditions, both drivers were subsequently airlifted to Tampa General Hospital with life-threatening injuries.
Burney, the driver of the third vehicle, was evaluated by medical personnel at the scene and released.
Authorities have not yet determined what caused Sanders to cross the median. The investigation into the fatal crash remains ongoing.
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