Two Teenagers Killed, One Injured After Crash on I-275
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St. Petersburg, FL (2/8/2020) – Two teenage girls died in a crash on I-275 on Saturday morning. The accident occurred around 6:21 p.m. in the northbound lanes of I-275.
Florida Highway Patrol states that the 18-year-old driver, whose name has not been released, tried to change lanes to get to the exit ramp at 22nd Avenue North when she hit a pickup truck. The teenager’s car spun across the interstate and ran into two trees on the shoulder of the exit ramp.
The driver was rushed to the hospital and her condition is currently unknown. The two passengers in the car, Jiana Minaya, 16, and Keeoshia Edwards, 17, were pronounced dead at the scene. Neither of the passengers were wearing seatbelts. The two men in the pickup truck were uninjured in the crash. Investigators currently suspect alcohol was a major factor in the accident.
Family and friends of the 16-year-old victim Jiana Minaya are mourning her untimely loss. They describe her as someone who acted tough, but was sweet and kind. She was an online high school student with a one-year-old daughter, a loving family, and many long-lasting friendships. Alexis Robertson, Jiana’s best friend since third grade, said that she “was always the light of the party” with “so much potential.”
Matthew Miller, Jiana’s 16-year-old boyfriend, is not the biological father of her daughter, but says he will raise her in Jiana’s memory. Miller knew Jiana for about three years before they planned to get married and said that they wanted to have a child together when they turned 18 years old.
Jiana’s family has set up a fundraiser to help pay for funeral expenses. To help, please click here.
Experienced Car Accident Lawyers in Florida
Our hearts go out to all of those impacted by this tragedy. Car accidents like this one occur far too often in Florida. It’s essential that car accidents be thoroughly investigated so that the cause of the collision can be understood, and the responsible party can be identified and, if warranted, held accountable.
Abrahamson & Uiterwyk is committed to advocating for individuals and families impacted by serious accidents, including car accidents. Here on our accident news blog, we report on stories that involve personal injuries because we help our clients recover losses and damages from accidents like this one. If you or a loved one has been impacted by a personal injury accident, we invite you to contact our firm anytime to discuss your case with a qualified car accident attorney.
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Source: WTSP