Driver Suffers Injuries after Being Run off Road near Tampa
A woman from Seffner experienced a tremendous shock early in the morning of January 1st after her car crashed into a ditch filled with water located off of Interstate 4 in Hillsborough County. According to reports from the Florida Highway Patrol, the incident was first reported just before 4:00 in the morning when the driver of a 2008 Toyota Scion called in a panic from within her vehicle as water from the ditch began to fill the car.
The events leading up to the incident are important to note. It appears that the 20-year-old Seffner resident was traveling from an unknown location early on New Years Day when another driver traveling along the same stretch of Interstate 4 cut her off. As a direct result of this incredibly dangerous circumstance, the driver of the Scion lost control of the vehicle as it reached the U.S. 301 exit ramp.
Unable to regain control of the car, the Scion left the roadway and careened into a water-filled ditch located near to the road’s shoulder. As it hit the ditch, the car overturned, coming to a final stop with its roof resting in the water and the water beginning to enter the vehicle.
At this point, the driver was able to call 9-1-1 and report her location to the authorities. First responders, including EMTs and paramedics began to rush to the scene. One of the first people to reach the scene of the accident was a deputy with the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office. This person rushed to the overturned car and began to help the trapped person. It is not known how long the driver of the vehicle was stuck within their car, but the deputy did manage to ultimately free them from the perilous circumstance.
After being pulled from the Scion, the woman was taken to Tampa General Hospital where she was treated for minor injuries. Since that time, it has been ascertained that she was not under the influence of alcohol during the crash.
The car which caused the 20-year-old to lose control of their vehicle by cutting them off has not been identified or located. It is not clear if the driver of the Scion could offer much by way of description of this car, and therefore it is not clear if a search is underway for the reckless driver.
Sources:
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.
