Temple Terrace girl, 16, dies after being ejected in Interstate 75 crash

TAMPA — A 16-year-old Temple Terrace girl died Friday when she was ejected from a pick-up truck that overturned on Interstate 75, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

The crash took place just before noon near milepost 266, just north of the exit for E Fletcher Avenue.

A 16-year-old Tampa boy was driving the truck at a “high rate of speed” north on I-75 when the driver attempted to pass another vehicle, troopers said. The driver lost control of the pick-up, which left the road, entered the shoulder and then overturned.

The Temple Terrace teen was ejected from the back seat, troopers said. She was not wearing her seatbelt at the time.

An 18-year-old man was in the truck’s passenger seat, troopers said. He and the driver sustained minor injuries in the crash. Both were wearing their seatbelts.

The Highway Patrol did not release the names of those who were involved in the crash.