Crime & Safety
3-Vehicle Crash Shuts Down U.S 19 for 2 Hours
Jezreel Lamont Sanders, 20, of Tarpon Springs, was ejected from his car and died at the scene of the crash which involved two other vehicles Sunday in Clearwater, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
A deadly three-vehicle crash shut down U.S. 19 in Clearwater for more than two hours Sunday afternoon.
Florida Highway Patrol investigators say Jezreel Lamont Sanders, 20, of Tarpon Springs, was driving a 2003 Honda Accord southbound at a high rate of speed on U.S. 19 when he lost control of the car around 4:51 p.m. It happened just north of Hammock Pine Boulevard in Clearwater.
Sander's car was in the outside lane and rotated counter-clockwise, it then crossed over the grassy median and into the path of a 2007 Ford Van driven by Norman Ertel, 36, of St. Petersburg.
Find out what's happening in Clearwaterwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Ertel's van hit the side of Sanders' car, causing Sanders' car to overturn and vault onto the top of a third vehicle, a 1996 Mazda Miata which was driven by Diane Ryan, 49, of Brandon. The Miata was headed in the northbound direction.
Sanders was ejected from his car and died at the scene. Ertel, Ryan, and her passenger Timothy Ryan 50, were hospitalized with minor injuries.
Find out what's happening in Clearwaterwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Investigators say Sanders was not wearing a seatbelt. The other people involved in the accident were wearing seatbelts.
Sign up for the free Clearwater Patch email newsletter to stay connected to your community.
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
