Three Dead After Wrong-Way Crash in Tampa

Two women and one man were killed in a wrong-way traffic accident recently when their vehicle collided head-on with a semi tractor-trailer in the northbound lanes of I-275 in Tampa. The victims in the accident have been identified by the authorities as Gabrielle Nicole Lanier, Lakrita R. Lanier, and John Lee Pierson. Both Lanier women, ages 33 and 31, were from Tampa and Mr. Pierson, 26, was from Riverview.

According to the Florida Highway Traffic Patrol, Gabrielle Lanier was driving her 2013 Honda Civic in the wrong direction down I-275 at around 6 a.m. She crashed into the semi tractor-trailer, carrying petroleum for Gemini Motor Transport, head on. All three victims were declared dead at the scene. The driver of the semi, Michael F. Kellogg, was not injured in the accident.

After the crash, both vehicles came to a rest in the northbound lanes, and the interstate was closed for hours to investigate the accident. It is unclear at this time where the Civic pulled onto the interstate going in the wrong direction. Authorities are looking into whether or not alcohol played a role in this accident.

This is the fourth time this year that a wrong-way driver has caused a fatal accident on I-275 in Tampa. In August, a 23-year-old man was killed when he drove the wrong way and collided with an ambulance. In February, four boys from the University of South Florida were killed when a wrong-way driver under the influence of alcohol and drugs slammed into their car. Also in February, another wrong-way driver with an alcohol level almost three times the legal limit crashed into a box truck on the interstate and was killed.

Florida Wrong-Way Accidents

According to the Florida Integrated Report Exchange Program, there have been a total of 223,110 traffic accidents in the state this year alone. Of those, 98,817 accidents have resulted in 147,285 people being injured and 1,611 deaths. Only ten days into September of this year there have been 3,800 traffic accidents reported around the state, with this year’s record month being March with 30,183 crashes reported.

In addition, the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles reported in their “Traffic Crash Facts Annual Report 2012” that of the 281,340 accidents in Florida that year, a significant portion were attributed to wrong-way drivers. Because of vehicles driving on the wrong side of the road or the wrong way, 363 accidents resulted in property damage. Another 541 car accidents involved bodily injury, and 53 wrong-way crashes resulted in death.

Let a Tampa Auto Accident Lawyer Help

The victims of a car accident can face years of rehabilitation and lawsuits to get the compensation that they deserve. If you or a loved one has been the victim of an auto accident in the Tampa, West Palm, or greater central Florida area, let the experienced lawyers at the Pendas Law Firm help. Call or contact the office today for a free and confidential consultation of your case.