Ruskin Man Dies in U.S. 41 Crash

A 32-year-old Ruskin man is dead following a crash along U.S. 41 Sunday night.

According to the Florida Highway Patrol, the accident happened around 7:04 p.m. just south of Fourth Street Southwest. James Michael Hartman of Ruskin was driving south on U.S. 41 in a 1998 Ford Taurus when the wreck happened. An unknown vehicle made a left turn off Fourth Street in front of Hartman.

Hartman, troopers said, tried to avoid a collision, but lost control of the Taurus. His vehicle rotated, traveled off the road and then struck a tree.

Hartman was taken to Tampa General Hospital, where he later died.

His passenger, Amanda Ward, 18, of Illinois, suffered minor injuries.

Photo courtesy of the Florida Highway Patrol