RSSDriver and Dog Die During T-Bone Crash in Tarpon Springs
Investigators with the Tarpon Springs Police Department are currently determining the cause of a T-bone collision that claimed the life of a 79-year-old man and his dog yesterday afternoon along U.S. Highway 19 North in Pinellas County.
According to early reports from responding officers with the Tarpon Springs Police Department, it was shortly before 2:30 p.m. on Tuesday, August 22, 2023, when a 17-year-old boy from Tarpon Springs was driving a blue Toyota pickup in the northbound direction of U.S. Hwy. 19. As the teenager approached the area near Anderson Park, a 79-year-old man from Tarpon Springs driving a white Toyota entered from the southbound direction of the highway and attempted to make a turn in front of the park. This maneuver positioned his car on a collision course with the oncoming pickup truck and the two vehicles were involved in a T-bone crash.
The impact from the auto accident caused the Toyota to flip over while the pickup truck was simultaneously propelled into a roadside power pole. Both drivers were trapped inside their vehicles for an undetermined amount of time until rescuers arrived at the scene.
Once the two crash victims were finally extracted from their vehicles by Tarpon Springs emergency responders, the 17-year-old driver was transported in stable condition to Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital in St. Petersburg.
The 79-year-old man was taken to AdventHealth North Pinellas in Tarpon Springs in serious condition and passed away from his injuries just a few hours later. His dog was also in the vehicle when the collision occurred and sadly did not survive the incident.
Local Tarpon Springs officials are requesting the public’s assistance with this case. If you have any relevant information regarding this fatal auto accident, please contact your closest law enforcement agency, the statewide toll-free Crimeline at (800) 423-TIPS, or Officer Lee Palmer or Steve Gassen at (727) 938-2849.
Since 1977, Florida auto accident attorney James O. Cunningham has been compassionately representing victims who have been seriously injured during hit-and-run collisions, wrong-way accidents, head-on collisions, rear-end car accidents, drunk driver accidents, and distracted driving accidents. If you would like to schedule a free 30-minute case evaluation, please submit a quick contact form on our website or call our office directly at 877-FL-INJURY.
James O. Cunningham
Since 1977, personal injury lawyer James Cunningham has provided effective legal advocacy to people who are injured through the negligent actions of another person or entity throughout the Central Florida area. He fights to obtain recoveries for his clients’ physical and emotional pain and suffering and pursues his clients’ personal injury cases with a commitment to excellence and impeccable preparation.
Mr. Cunningham is an excellent and knowledgeable attorney.