DADE CITY, Fla. -- A 15-year-old girl died in a Tuesday evening crash in Dade City.
- Crash occurred on U.S. 301 at Trilby Road (SR 575)
- Girl, 15, died from her injuries in the crash
- Other teens, 17 and 15 injured
- Residents say intersection has seen several crashes
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, Keely Rai Oltmanns of Lakeland died and two other teens suffered injuries in the crash that happened just after 7 p.m. on US 301 at Trilby Road.
Troopers said the 17-year-old driver of a Ford Explorer did not stop at the flashing lights of the intersection and was struck by a Ford F250 pick up truck towing a trailer.
The SUV then hit a fence at struck multiple vehicles at a used car lot. FHP officials said Oltmanns was ejected from the SUV in the crash. She died at Bayonet Point Hospital.
The 17-year-old female driver from Lake Wales remains in critical condition at St. Joseph's Hospital. Another occupant of the SUV, a 15-year-old boy from Lakeland, is in serious condition at St. Joseph's Hospital.
The 21-year-old driver of the pickup truck was not injured.
Aidee Herrera lives right at the intersection and says she has heard quite a few crashes in her 15 years there.
"Sometimes we'll be asleep. All of the sudden you just hear the boom. It's very scary," Herrera said.
She and other neighbors feel that the flashing lights at the intersection can be confusing to some drivers.
"I think the lights are making it worse because it's confusing to people, especially if you're not from the area," Herrera said. "We'd prefer a traffic light."
It's not clear what exactly led to the crash, but troopers says Keely was not wearing a seat belt.
Her father posted on Facebook and said Keely and two friends were coming back from a day at the bluffs.