Van carrying cheerleaders flips on I-275, 14 injured

Sunday, November 22, 2009

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This picture was taken on the scene of the church van crash.

HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY (Bay News 9) -- A group of 13 teens received non-life threatening injuries Sunday when the van they were in flipped on Interstate 275 in Tampa.

The crash happened shortly before 1 p.m. Sunday just past the Lois Avenue exit.

Captain Bill Wade said the van blew a tire and crashed into the median.

"First it started shaking, then boom, it flipped," said cheerleader Angela Collins.

Officials say there were more vans from the same group traveling in a caravan, and they witnessed the crash.

Prior to the crash the Child's Park Rattlers cheerleaders had placed in a competition in Lakeland.

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Several fire units and ambulance crews treated the 13 teenagers and adult driver who had to crawl out of a small window to get out of the van.

They were transported to St. Joseph's and Tampa General hospitals.

Wade also said that he credits the emergency crews with clearing the scene quickly, after traffic in the area was backed up for about an hour.

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