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Woman dies after SUV slams into tree, burns
By AUSTIN BOGUES
Published July 10, 2007
A fiery crash on a narrow Spring Lake road claimed the life of a woman Sunday night. Authorities were still investigating the crash on Monday and unable to provide an identity of the woman who crashed a 2005 Dodge Durango sport utility vehicle into a tree on Hickory Hill Road. Florida Highway Patrol troopers said the vehicle caught fire after hitting a tree shortly after 10 p.m. The driver may have overcorrected as she approached a curve. Authorities were seeking to identify her through dental records. The fatal crash was the second in a deadly weekend in Hernando County. On Saturday a 1999 Ford Explorer flipped on U.S. 19 just north of State Road 50. Jaren Gasse, 24, of Pinellas County, died after she was ejected from the vehicle along with another passenger, Lacie Deleon, 22. A third passenger, Edward Gardner, 26, of Tampa, was not ejected. Gardner and Deleon were taken by helicopter to St. Joseph's Hospital in Tampa. Monday afternoon Deleon was in serious condition and Gardner was hospitalized with injuries that weren't life threatening. Authorities said Deleon and Gasse were not wearing their seat belts, and it is not clear who was driving. Highway Patrol spokesman Larry Coggins said the accident may have occurred when the driver overcorrected after drifting off the road, causing the vehicle to flip. Austin Bogues can be reached at (352) 754-6117.
[Last modified July 9, 2007, 20:49:26]
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by Jake
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07/20/07 09:13 PM
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i am whitneys cousin and i just can't believe this happened. you will always be remembered whitney. i love you.
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by Piper
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07/18/07 05:28 PM
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My deepest sympathy to Tom and Julie...Whitney was a beautiful young woman, I still think of her as the little girl she was when i first met her.Whitney has an amazing mother and father and they will be in my prayers.Love you.
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by mike
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07/18/07 06:58 AM
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everyone please drive safe whitney lost her for i don't know what reason but i can never forget how happy she made me, how she always put a smile on my face and everyone else's whitney baby i love you and will always love you!!!!!!!!
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by Pam/Gordon
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07/17/07 09:12 PM
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Losing a child is such a horrific nightmare. I can't imagine how Whitneys parents can even close their eyes without imagining what took place that terrible night. May GOD always stay with them and in their hearts. Doc hold your head high and be proud
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by frank
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07/16/07 03:31 PM
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Tom, Sorry for you lost. Its been a while since we had seen Whitney. Tiffany T just called and told us. Kim and my wife Michelle are sisters. Our prayers go out to you
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by mary
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07/16/07 01:09 AM
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i am so shocked regarding some of the comments made by other people.whitney mathias perished in a horrific automobile accident. my thoughts goes out to the family members,especially tom and julie. they both need respect .
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by cookie
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07/13/07 11:48 AM
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my son did the same thing in an exployer and walked away with scratches and his passenger the same just scratches This girl was taken and will be missed and was loved please think before u speak Tom we all pray for u Cookie And Angie
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by Cathy
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07/13/07 11:05 AM
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Enjoyed working with you and your mother Whitney. You will be missed dearly by all who loved you. I still can see your smile and I don't think I'll ever forget it.
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by JEANETTE&JERRY
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07/13/07 09:42 AM
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Our thoughts and prayers are with Whitneys family and friends during this tragic time. May you rest in peace Whitney.
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by Sonia
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07/12/07 12:59 PM
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.. that was the most horrific accident I have ever seen and I feel for the families of those youngsters. One of the girls' last names is DeLeon, my last name is also DeLeon, that is a strange coincidence I still think about often.
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by Sonia
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07/12/07 12:49 PM
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... then 2 seconds later to view the lifeless body of a young woman laying on the road, really hit home. And for there to be no ambulance, cops around, put things into bigger perspective for me, I realized I JUST missed the accident by only minutes.
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by Sonia
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07/12/07 12:47 PM
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About 3 minutes late from being involved in this accident or viewing this accident. I was completely in disbelief when I drove by. I tried to snap a photo of the mangeled vehicle (a RED 4-DR Explorer), but was to distraught by what I was viewing.....
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by mike
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07/12/07 11:04 AM
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every one misses you dearly whitney even though we were only together for a short time but it felt like i knew you my whole life i jus can't believe your gone i only hope and wish you are some where peicefull i'll never ever forget you love always!
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by Melanie
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07/12/07 09:49 AM
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Stop being rude people...a mother and father has lost their child and all you can do is complain about the automobile she was driving. What if she did have her seatbelt on? Wait until after the investigation before making comments!
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by Karen
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07/11/07 06:53 PM
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tears can't be held back..Whit was loved and will be missed..my deepest heart felt sympathy to her family, friends and Mike... find comfort in knowing we care and are here 4 U.
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by Brittany
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07/11/07 05:34 PM
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Whitney Mathias was the victim of this terrible tragedy.
I miss you already, babe.
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by Alison
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07/11/07 10:54 AM
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all you people could do was complain about what they did wrong and nothing nice wel jaren and lacey and eddie are my friends and i would never said anything nasty about it if i didnt know them,the families are very hurt and all u do is say nasty stuf
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by Lynda
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07/11/07 09:08 AM
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Whitney Mathias, I love you girl... we will all miss you a lot. We had fun at high school at Bogie and Osceola. You we're one of my best friends and I can't believe you're gone.
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by Patty
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07/11/07 08:37 AM
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Whitney Mathias was a mature, beautiful sweet young woman loved by everyone. She will be missed so very much! Tom sorry for your loss.
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by mike
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07/11/07 07:17 AM
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the woman who past away sunday night was Whitney Methias. whitney was loved by many and will always be loved and never forgotten.
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by Menda
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07/10/07 09:04 PM
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Another SUV accident?when will these people learn to drive?most probably don't even need a vehicle that big, but it makes them feel big and powerful. and back-off my rear bumper in traffic!!too many agress. drvrs w/no patience/need stronger penalties
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by Samantha
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07/10/07 08:06 PM
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This was a good friend of mine, and I terribly miss her, I can only hope drivers benefit from this accident by being careful.
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by Anynomous
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07/10/07 07:13 PM
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Anybody reading this, identity has been confirmed. The woman who crashed into a tree was named Whitney. Last name I'm not sure of. She worked at Applebees in Brooksville and had just celebrated her 21st birthday.
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by patty
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07/10/07 05:06 PM
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I know the young woman who was killed in the durango and believe me her parents bought her that suv for protection.She was a beautiful girl whom my son dated for four years and we all loved her.To her parents our sympathies.
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by Lynda
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07/10/07 04:45 PM
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Being rude about the deaths of people you don't know must be easier than saying something caring for her family and friends to see right? I hope you never have to go through this like some of us are.
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by Maria
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07/10/07 03:41 PM
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I am the one who called in about the accident. I had just got off of work at cracker barrel and I thought a light pole had been installed but I guess I was wrong. I wasnt going to call 911 but im glad I did. Im 17 and never seen something like that.
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by bryant
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07/10/07 02:55 PM
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yea a very insenitive thing to say... the girl in the durango was a good friend of mine. she will be missed. R.I.P
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by Random
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07/10/07 01:20 PM
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It was Whitney Mathis. I dont know why it said its unidentified.
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by Tera w.
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07/10/07 10:53 AM
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I saw the accident happen on us 19 on my way swimming.I stopped.now her 2days later I find out my friend whitney .crashed into tree on Springlake hwy.I just want to say please wear your seatbelts. its weird how things happen like this we miss you all
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by Tandy
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07/10/07 10:50 AM
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I know I will get crucified for this, but people really need to slow down on the roads around here... It's not the Indy here people. I know, I am assuming these people were speeding or not watching where they were going, but it was likely a factor.
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by Mike
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07/10/07 10:10 AM
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If this is a two door Explorer, they have been cited as very easy to rollover. Don't buy them thinking they are safe vehicles. Ford should have made the wheelbases wider in the two door model, but didn't for cost reasons. Buy the 4 door model!!!
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by Paul
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07/10/07 10:06 AM
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Nancy, the Exlorer is incredibly unsafe. Look at the rollover stats for SUV's. The one with the highest rollover rate is aptly named the 'Sport' version of the Explorer. They are extremely dangerous vehicles to drive as they flip easily.
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by Nancy
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07/10/07 08:09 AM
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I have no idea what you are referring to about the useless veh and trendy but the Explorer was bought to be a safe car for a responsible young woman. You are obviously heartless to post a comment like this when two young women have perished.
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by Lisa
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07/10/07 07:55 AM
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I am sorry to the families who have lost love ones. I just dont understand how some are still not putting on seatbelts.
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by Red
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07/10/07 05:51 AM
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Good ol' Stupid Useless Vehicles .... For less $ they could have bought a full size P/U truck, spent less on fuel and have better control. But no, trendy is in and of course individuality, you know, everyone else on the block has one just like it.
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