The Tampa Police Department is investigating a multi-vehicle crash that killed two adults and sent several others to the hospital.
Just before 1:00 p.m., officers responded to the south end of the intersection of N 50th St and E Dr. Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, in reference to a crash.
According to investigators, a 2015 Kenworth dump truck was traveling northbound on N 50th St approaching E Dr. Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, when the driver, an adult male in his late 40’s, failed to notice stopped traffic ahead. In an attempt to avoid a collision, the driver made a sudden lane change and hit the back of a minivan that was driven by an adult male in his early 60’s with two juvenile passengers.
The driver of the minivan was taken to a local hospital, where he was pronounced deceased. The two children were hospitalized, one of which sustained serious injuries, but were last listed as stable.
The dump truck then veered onto the shoulder hitting an adult male in his early 20’s, who momentarily got out of a company box truck while traffic was stopped to place a company sign on the grassy shoulder. The passenger who exited the vehicle was pronounced deceased on scene.
The dump truck continued forward, colliding with three additional vehicles before coming to a complete stop. Two out of the three adult drivers involved were taken to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
“This tragedy is a sobering reminder of how quickly lives can be changed on the road,” said Chief Lee Bercaw. “Our deepest condolences go out to the families and friends mourning this unimaginable loss. We urge everyone to stay mindful and make safe choices behind the wheel, not just for themselves but for everyone on the road."
The driver of the dump truck did not exhibit any signs of impairment and did not appear to have any medical episodes. As a result of the incident, he was issued a court summons for careless driving resulting in death.
Additional information will be available pending the ongoing investigation.