Tampa Republic

The Tampa Police Department is currently investigating a fatal traffic accident that took place on October 10, 2024. The incident occurred at approximately 10:15 p.m. at the intersection of Florida Ave. and Palm Ave., an area affected by power outages due to Hurricane Milton, leaving the traffic signal inoperative.

The collision involved a 2005 Nissan Sentra driven by a 58-year-old man and a 2022 Hyundai Tucson with a 35-year-old male driver and a 55-year-old female passenger. The crash impacted the passenger side of the Hyundai.

Tragically, the female passenger in the Hyundai was pronounced dead at the scene. The Hyundai's driver was unharmed, while the Nissan's driver sustained serious injuries and was taken to a nearby hospital but is expected to survive.

Chief Lee Bercaw expressed his condolences, stating, "We are deeply saddened by the tragic loss of life that occurred last night." He emphasized the need for caution when traveling after Hurricane Milton and reminded drivers to treat non-functioning traffic signals as four-way stops. "Let's work together to prevent such tragedies in the future," he urged.