Two crashes on Dale Mabry Highway in Hillsborough County tragically took four lives this week, the Tampa Bay Times and WFLA 8 have reported. The deadly collisions occurred in the early morning hours of February 28th and March 2, 2021.
The first crash occurred at about 1:20 a.m. on Sunday, February 28, 2021, at the intersection of Van Dyke Road and Dale Mabry Highway in Lutz. A sedan collided with an SUV at the intersection. The SUV was headed south on Dale Mabry, (designated State Road 597), and the sedan was headed east on Van Dyke. According to the news report, the front of the SUV collided with the left side of the car. The two occupants of the sedan, a 62-year old man, and a 57-year-old female passenger died at the scene.
The second crash occurred on Dale Mabry Highway at about 3 a.m. on Tuesday, March 2, 2021, near Hunt Road in Tampa. An SUV traveling southbound in the northbound lanes collided with a northbound sedan. Both the driver of the SUV and the sedan were killed. Further details were not available.
Dale Mabry Highway, named after World War I airship aviator Dale Mabry, runs north-south for 22.6 miles in Tampa. It has three lanes in each direction for the majority of the route. For most of the route, the speed limit is 45 mph. Dale Mabry has made several lists of the most dangerous stretches of roadway in Hillsborough County. The intersection of N Dale Mabry & W. Columbus Drive made Tampa Police’s list of 5 most dangerous intersections in 2018.
Another fatal collision on Dale Mabry occurred on December 15, 2020, and a pedestrian was killed in a fatal pedestrian accident on November 28, 2020.
These incidents and other similar collisions are painful reminders of the devastating consequences of automobile accidents that should never happen. Driving in the early morning hours can be dangerous, even for alert, well-rested, safe drivers. Visibility may be reduced, and there are higher numbers of drunk drivers and fatigued drivers on the road. On roads where vehicles travel at highway speeds, the forces of impact are more severe and the risk of serious injury or death is elevated in any collision.
Head-on collisions, like the one on March 2, and intersection accidents on highways like the one on February 28th, are among the most lethal of all accidents. Our hearts go out to the families of the victims of both of these crashes. Losing a loved one unexpectedly is heartbreaking and devastating.
The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating these accidents and will determine the cause. Family members of the victims may choose to file a wrongful death claim against the at-fault driver to seek compensation for their losses, including funeral costs, future lost income, and loss of love, care, and companionship.
The aftermath of a fatal accident can be overwhelming. At the Coleman Law Group, founder Constance Coleman and her team offer support, resources, and advice for families. An empathetic and understanding Tampa car accident attorney may be able to help the victims’ families understand their legal rights and options under Florida Law.
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