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Car slams into several vehicles on Belleair Beach Causeway Bridge

 
Published March 4, 2015

LARGO — An overturned vehicle on the Belleair Beach Causeway Bridge blocked traffic Tuesday night and almost cost one young man his life.

Bobby Stoychev, 19, was driving to work at a gas station Subway around 5 p.m. when he saw a black Mustang hurtling toward him on its side at 40 or 50 mph, he said.

When the sliding car slammed into his Toyota Camry, Stoychev blacked out for a second, he said, and his car ricocheted to the other side of the bridge. He regained consciousness and, with bleeding knees, got out of his car, now totaled.

"I went up to a few people that were jogging on the bridge that saw it happen and I asked them for a handshake," he said. "Honestly, I needed to see if I was still alive."

Largo police are investigating the accident and have not yet released details about its cause. Stoychev said the Mustang hit at least three other cars before its driver was pulled from the car.

No identities of the other drivers were released.

The Clearwater teenager said he's feeling the effects of the crash in his back and his ribs, but that he feels lucky to be alive.

"I'm just absolutely shaken," he said. "I'm definitely inspired to do a lot more in my life now that I've experienced something like this, which woke me up to how easy it is to lose your life these days."

His insurance will cover the loss of his car, he said, but even so, he isn't sure he wants to get back on the road.

Contact Claire McNeill at cmcneill@tampabay.com or (727) 893-8321. Follow @clairemcneill.