2 kids, 3 adults killed in three-vehicle crash in Plant City

PLANT CITY, Fla. - Two drivers, an adult passenger a 12-year-old, and baby were killed following a crash in Plant City that occurred late Sunday night. Several others – both adults and children – were seriously injured.

According to the Florida Highway Patrol, the 20-year-old female driver of a 2015 Ford Explorer was traveling north on State Road 39, near the Bruton Road intersection. 

The Zephyrhills woman had six female passengers in the SUV: a 56-year-old, a 12-year-old, a 1-year-old, a 22-year-old, a 31-year-old and a 5-year-old. All were wearing seatbelts or in a child restraint, investigators said.

Scene of Plant City fatal traffic crash on morning of Oct. 31, 2022.

Meanwhile, a second vehicle, a 2021 Nissan Frontier, driven by a 53-year-old man from Valrico, was traveling south on SR-39. As both vehicles were approaching each other, the SUV drifted across the center line for "unknown reasons," troopers reported. Both vehicles crashed nearly head-on.

After the impact, the Ford ended up on the west shoulder of the highway while the Nissan came to a final rest in the southbound lane of SR-39 with no lights illuminating from the truck, according to FHP.

Then, a tractor-trailer, which was traveling south, collided with the passenger side of the Nissan Frontier.

READ: Tampa Bay area leaders push for change to prevent deadly pedestrian crashes

The drivers of the Ford and Nissan passed away at the scene. The 56-year-old, 12-year-old, and 1-year-old in the SUV also died, troopers said.

All other occupants had serious injuries, except for the driver of the semi-truck, a 60-year-old man from Plant City, who had no injuries.

FHP is still investigating the deadly crash.

The roadway has since reopened.