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15-year-old dies in Pasco car accident

 
A vigil is set for Saturday for Kaitlyn Bearup, 15, of Zephyrhills.
A vigil is set for Saturday for Kaitlyn Bearup, 15, of Zephyrhills.
Published June 12, 2015

ZEPHYRHILLS — Gareth Bearup rushed to the scene Wednesday when he heard his daughter was in a car accident.

By the time he got there, Kait­lyn Bearup, 15, had already died.

"I got to kiss her goodbye and hold her for a little bit," Bearup said with teary eyes at his home Thursday.

Kaitlyn was in a 2000 Chevrolet pickup truck with her boyfriend and his brother and father about 3:30 p.m. Her boyfriend's father, Robert Vandemheen, 43, of Zephyrhills, tried to pass a Chevy Silverado while on 16th Street at Piedmont Avenue when, according to a Florida Highway Patrol report, he lost control of the truck.

The truck Vandemheen was driving hit the Silverado, careened off the road and crashed into several large trees, the report said. It then traveled back onto the road and hit a parked car.

Vandemheen and his son Timothy, 17, both suffered critical injuries and were transported to Florida Hospital Zephyrhills and Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point, respectively. Kaitlyn's boyfriend, Robert Vandemheen, 16, who lives in Plant City, suffered serious injuries and was taken to Lakeland Regional Medical Center, the report said.

The driver of the other pickup truck, Alexis Rodriguez, 31, of Zephyrhills also suffered serious injuries and was transported to Florida Hospital Zephyrhills.

Everyone was wearing their seat belt, and the accident is still under investigation. No charges were filed Thursday.

"It's so senseless," Gareth Bearup said.

Kaitlyn, a rising sophomore at Zephyrhills High School, had an interest in psychology, her father said, and was also very social. One of her best friends, Kyra Heggs, 15, said she feels empty when she thinks about Kaitlyn.

"She was there for me through everything and helped me through the bad times when I needed her," Kyra said. "I don't know what to do without her anymore."

A candlelight vigil is schedule for 8:30 p.m. Saturday at the Zephyrhills High School football field. Kaitlyn's family has asked attendees to wear her favorite colors: hot pink, baby blue and lime green.

Contact Josh Solomon at (813) 226-3446 or jsolomon@tampabay.com. Follow @josh_solomon15.