One dead in Memorial Highway crash in Tampa

TAMPA — A 59-year-old man is dead after a crash on Memorial Highway early Tuesday.

The accident happened about 3:15 a.m. when a 1999 Ford Explorer flipped on eastbound Memorial Highway west of George Road, the Hillsborough Sheriff's Office said.

The right front passenger, Juan Patino-Grajales, died at the scene.

The driver, 23-year-old Federico Alonzo-Frias, and a second passenger, 22-year-old Waldo Abreu, were taken to St. Joseph's Hospital. Alonzo-Frias was treated and released and Abreu remains in stable condition, deputies said.

Deputies said the sport utility vehicle's driver came upon a car in the left lane, tried to pass it on the right, lost control and flipped across the median.

Both directions of Memorial Highway at the scene were closed for hours while deputies investigated.