Lutz man identified as I-275 crash victim

The passenger killed in a rush-hour accident Monday on Interstate 275, a half-mile west of the Howard Frankland Bridge, was identified Tuesday as 32-year-old Timothy Dougher of Lutz.

Dougher was riding in an Isuzu truck driven by Roy Douglas of Zephyrhills. Douglas was not seriously injured.

They were headed north on I-275 about 4 p.m. after working at a construction site off Ulmerton Road.

Chelsea Elizabeth Silverstein, 17, of St. Petersburg drove into the left lane of the highway and then swerved back, losing control. Florida Highway Patrol Lt. Sterling King said.

"The curve just snuck up on her, and she went over the lane," King said. "That's probably due to inexperience."

Silverstein's northbound Volvo sedan crashed into the rear of the Isuzu. She had two passengers in her car -- Jessica Steigner, 17, and Peter Doodrich, 18, both of St. Petersburg. They were not hurt.

After the impact, the Isuzu flipped over several times, and Dougher, who was wearing a seatbelt, was ejected. The truck then crashed into an electric pole.

Douglas and Dougher were headed to the excavation company's job yard in Land O'Lakes, where Dougher's wife was waiting to pick him up from work. The couple have a daughter, 8, and son, 11.

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