PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. – An early morning drive turned fatal on Sunday when a pickup truck drifted off Interstate 275, claiming the life of a Clearwater woman.
The crash occurred just before 4:00 a.m. as a Chevy Colorado headed south toward the Sunshine Skyway Bridge. According to troopers, the 21-year-old driver from Pinellas Park fell asleep at the wheel just north of the Pinellas Rest Area.
Once the driver lost control, the truck veered off the roadway. Investigators say the vehicle smashed into a tree and then collided with a guardrail. The violent impact caused a 27-year-old female passenger to be ejected from the truck.
Emergency responders rushed the Clearwater woman to a local hospital, but she later died from her injuries.
Despite the severity of the wreck, the driver and two other passengers inside the truck were uninjured. The investigation is ongoing.
READ: ‘Heartbreaking’: Florida 13-Year-Old Among Trio Charged With Murder After Beating Elderly Man
Please make a small donation to the Tampa Free Press to help sustain independent journalism. Your contribution enables us to continue delivering high-quality, local, and national news coverage.
Sign up: Subscribe to our free newsletter for a curated selection of top stories delivered straight to your inbox.
