Clearwater man killed, four children injured in I-4 crash when tire blows

CLEARWATER — A Clearwater man was killed and four children were injured, one critically, in a single-car crash in Polk County on Thursday afternoon, the Florida Highway Patrol reported.

It happened about 1:30 p.m. on eastbound Interstate 4 near State Road 559, troopers said.

Terry Lee Colston, 55, was driving a 2006 Ford Expedition when the rear right tire blew out, troopers said. The car spun counterclockwise and went on the shoulder, where it overturned.

Colston suffered critical injuries and was pronounced dead at Lakeland Regional Medical Center, troopers said. Robert Colston, 11, was the front seat passenger. He was also taken to the hospital with critical injuries, troopers said.

Three other children in the car were taken to the hospital for minor injuries, the FHP said. They were identified as Sarah Colston, 11, and Jake Colston, 10, both of Clearwater, and Maxwell Watson, 10, of Union City.

The relationships of all the people in the vehicle were unclear late Thursday night. Troopers were investigating the crash.