Husband, Wife Killed In Brandon Crash

BRANDON, FL — Two people are dead and one is seriously injured following a four-vehicle crash on Parsons Avenue Monday morning.

According to the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, Sanita Sookdeo, 48, of Dover was heading southbound on Parsons Avenue in a 2007 GMC Denali around 11:35 a.m. She was traveling “at a high rate of speed,” the sheriff’s office wrote in an email to media.

At that time, Richard Crete, 54, of Riverview was heading southbound ahead of Sookdeo in a 2003 Acura TL. Crete, and his wife, Tanya, 58, were traveling about 40 to 45 mph when they were rear-ended by Sookdeo, the sheriff’s office said.

“The Denali ramped over the Acura and continued southeast, approximately 530 feet, struck an embankment and went airborne again over Jersey Avenue,” the email noted.

A Toyota Corolla, driven by Elliot Acosta, 35, of Brandon was stopped in the westbound lane of Jersey Avenue at the time. Sookdeo’s Denali struck a tree on the southeast corner of Jersey and Parsons avenues before coming to rest. The Corolla was struck by debris from the Denali, the email said.

The fourth vehicle, a Toyota Highlander, driven by Douglas Teten, 62, of Brandon was struck by the Cretes’ Acura, the sheriff’s office said. The Acura suffered “severe rear crush damage,” the email noted.

Tanya Crete was taken to Brandon Hospital, but died from her injuries. Richard Crete was transported to Tampa General Hospital, but also died from his injuries.

Sookdeo was taken to Tampa General Hospital with serious injuries.

No one in the Corolla or Highlander were injured, the sheriff’s office said.

“Alcohol and or drugs are not expected to be involved at this time,” the email said. The investigation remains active with charges pending.

Image via Shutterstock

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