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Two injured in wrong-way Valrico crash; both drivers may be impaired

 
Two vehicles on State Road 60 struck each other head-on early Wednesday, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. One driver was driving west in the eastbound lane of State Road 60, troopers said, but both drivers may have been impaired. [FHP]
Two vehicles on State Road 60 struck each other head-on early Wednesday, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. One driver was driving west in the eastbound lane of State Road 60, troopers said, but both drivers may have been impaired. [FHP]
Published Dec. 12, 2018

VALRICO — A driver headed the wrong way on State Road 60 struck another vehicle head-on early Wednesday, according to the Florida Highway Patrol, leaving the other driver with critical injuries.

But both drivers may have been impaired, said Sgt. Steve Gaskins.

The crash took place on S.R. 60 just after midnight. Walt Pfeifer, 70, of Valrico, was driving a 2017 Jeep Cherokee west in the eastbound lanes, troopers said.

Ahead, headed in the right direction, troopers said 34-year-old Matthew Bell, 34, of Valrico, was driving his 2012 Chevy Corvette east in the eastbound lane.

The two vehicles crashed head-on just east of Miller Road. The collision overturned the Jeep and sent it rolling across the lanes before it stopped in the south shoulder. The Corvette was sent spinning until it came to a rest in the median.

Both men were taken to Tampa General Hospital. Bell was wearing his seatbelt and reported to be in critical condition after the crash. Pfeifer was not wearing his seatbelt and reported to be in serious condition.

Charges are pending but no arrest had been made as of Wednesday evening. The Highway Patrol is awaiting toxicology results from both drivers.

Contact Daniel Figueroa IV at dfigueroa@tampabay.com. Follow @danuscripts.