1 dead in 4-car crash in Palm Harbor after ‘improper lane change,’ troopers say

Emily Wunderlich, Tampa Bay Times
Updated ·2 min read
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An “improper lane change” led to a collision involving four vehicles that ultimately killed a woman from Texas in Pinellas County on Thursday afternoon, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

The crash was reported on East Lake Road in Palm Harbor just after 1:30 p.m., the Highway Patrol said in a news release.

Troopers say a 21-year-old Clearwater man was driving a Chevrolet Tahoe north in the outside lane of East Lake Road. South of Eagle Cove Boulevard, the man “made an improper lane change in an attempt to avoid stopped traffic,” the news release states.

The man struck a northbound Chevy Camaro driven by a 39-year-old woman from San Antonio, Texas. After the initial collision, the Tahoe traveled north of the scene and came to rest facing west on Eagle Cove Boulevard, the news release states.

The Camaro traveled into the southbound lanes of East Lake Road, where it was struck by a Ford Expedition driven by a 59-year-old woman from New Port Richey. The Camaro then rotated into the path of a Hummer H2 driven by a 54-year-old man from New Port Richey, and was struck again.

The San Antonio woman was taken to a local hospital, where she later died of her injuries, the news release states. Troopers say the driver of the Tahoe was not hurt, and the drivers of the Ford and the Hummer had minor injuries.

East Lake Road was closed between the intersections of Village Center Drive and Ridgemoor Boulevard and Lansbrook Parkway and Cypress Woods Boulevard for several hours Thursday afternoon. The roadways reopened shortly before 6:30 p.m., according to a news release from Pinellas County.

The Highway Patrol did not release further information, including whether the driver of the Tahoe would be cited or charged.