The Florida Highway Patrol says one vehicle ran a red light at State Road 50 and U.S. 301. A passenger was thrown onto the road.
By DUANE BOURNE
Published May 12, 2004
RIDGE MANOR EAST - One woman was killed and two people were seriously injured after a minivan and a sports car collided near the intersection of State Road 50 and U.S 301 in Ridge Manor Tuesday afternoon.
Florida Highway Patrol Lt. F.D. Barrow said a man and a woman, who had just left Mascotte in Lake County, were heading west on State Road 50 about 2:20 p.m. when their Ford Aerostar collided with a Ford Mustang.
The Mustang, which was traveling south of U.S. 301, spun into the shoulder of the roadway. The driver was pronounced dead at the scene.
The impact also threw the female passenger from the red minivan onto the roadway, Barrow said.
The woman, who was initially listed in critical condition, and the male driver were taken by helicopter to St. Joseph's Hospital in Tampa. Their conditions were not available Tuesday evening.
Authorities are not releasing the identities of occupants of the minivan or woman who died, pending notification of family members.
They are also not saying what might have caused the accident. Troopers received conflicting statements about who had the right of way at the time of the accident.
Barrow said that it would be difficult to determine who ran the red light because witnesses had left the scene before troopers arrived, and there were no skid marks to determine where the motorists began to brake or the point of impact.
"We know that there are witnesses," he said. "We are urging the witnesses to give us a call."
About 3 p.m., as troopers conducted their investigation, a witness came forward. Then, across the intersection at a gas station, troopers offered what little information they had about the wreck to the relatives of the woman who died.
Anyone with information about Tuesday's accident is urged to contact Barrow at the FHP's Brooksville district station at (352) 754-6767, ext. 102.
- Duane Bourne can be reached at 352 754-6114. Send e-mail to dbourne@sptimes.com
