Print

Email story

Comment

Email editor

Two die, one hurt in I-75 collision

The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating why a car crossed the median and hit a motor home.

By JAMAL THALJI
Published March 25, 2006

DADE CITY - Authorities don't know why the car suddenly veered off northbound Interstate 75 late Thursday night, sped northwest across the grass median and into the southbound lane, cutting into the path of an oncoming motor home.

All they know is that the result was tragic.

The two men in that car died, and the driver of the motor home that collided with them was in critical condition Friday.

Both vehicles were destroyed.

"We don't know why (the first driver) did what he did," said Florida Highway Patrol Trooper Larry Coggins Jr. "That will be part of the investigation, whether he lost control or was he under the influence of something. We won't know until we get the toxicology reports back and the autopsy is done."

The patrol doesn't know whether speed played a role in the crash.

The car driven by Eden Valtierra cut into the motor home's path, according to an FHP report, and the motor home hit the car's side. The car rolled over, landing on the driver's side.

Valtierra and passenger Ortega Rosendo both wore seat belts, the report said, but that didn't save them. Valtierra died at the scene. Rosendo died later at Pasco Regional Medical Center.

The impact demolished the car's front end. The damage was so great troopers aren't sure what kind of car it is. They think it's a Chevy Cavalier but can't find the windshield vehicle identification number in the wreckage. The license tag found attached to the car doesn't belong to it, Coggins said.

The victims' ages and hometowns weren't made public Friday. Both men have family in Tampa and ties to the Tampa Bay area, the trooper said.

The driver of the 1985 motor home, 28-year-old Jared Whitham of Venice, also wore his seat belt. He was flown to St. Joseph's Hospital in Tampa, where he remained Friday.

[Last modified March 25, 2006, 01:51:17]