One dead in fatal East Hillsborough crash on S.R. 574

A 18-year-old passenger died in a car accident in Hillsborough County on State Road 574 near Williams Road Friday afternoon, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

A 23-year-old was driving east on S.R. 574 with the 18-year-old passenger as they approached a red light near Williams Road. Three other cars were stopped at the traffic light when the 23-year-old attempted to slow down too late, troopers said.

In an attempt to avoid a collision, the 23-year-old driver swerved and struck the right side of another vehicle before colliding with the rear end of another, troopers said. The car crashed into a concrete median before striking a third car, and came to rest in the southwest shoulder of S.R. 574.

The 18-year-old passenger was transported to a local hospital for treatment, where they died from their injuries, troopers said.

The Florida Highway Patrol did release the names of those involved in the crash due to the the agency’s interpretation of Marsy’s Law, a constitutional amendment meant to protect crime victims. The law deprives the public of information that had long been made available under Florida’s public records law.

All involved were wearing seatbelts at the time of the crash, troopers said. An investigation is ongoing.