Armadillo and Unrestrained Motorists to Blame in Separate Fatal Crashes

PASCO – The westbound lanes of SR-54 were closed for several hours last night, while the Florida Highway Patrol investigated a crash that claimed the life of one person and severely injured another.

According to officials, a 25-year-old New Port Richey man was driving eastbound on SR-54, approaching Country Place Blvd in the inside lane, when for reasons unknown, the driver lost control and struck the center concrete median. The vehicle overturned, ejecting the driver, a 25-year-old New Port Richey man, and his passenger, a 20-year-old woman from Port Richey. The driver suffered serious injuries, but the passenger later died from her injuries. Neither occupant was wearing seatbelts at the time of the crash.

The second crash occurred just before 11:00 p.m. last night, when a 45-year-old Zephyrhills man was driving a motorcycle northbound on Eiland Blvd approaching Handcart Road. Officials say that's when an armadillo crossed the road and was struck by the motorcycle. The impact caused the motorcycle to flip, ejecting the driver onto the roadway. The driver suffered fatal injuries and died at the scene.