2 Injured in 3-Vehicle Crash on U.S. 19

Two people were hospitalized with injuries following a three-vehicle crash on U.S. 19 that also sparked a secondary wreck.

According to the Florida Highway Patrol, the crash happened around 6:30 Thursday morning at U.S. 19 and 298th Avenue North. A 2004 Chevrolet pickup driven by Rickey Joe Brown, 43, of New Port Richey and a 2011 Toyota Tundra, driven by Gary Wayne Sanders, 50, of Clearwater were both heading north on U.S. 19 in the inside lane at the time. A third vehicle, a 2014 Hyundai Accent, driven by Cynthia Marie Blackwell, 26, of New Port Richey was heading southbound in the inside center lane at the time.

Brown’s pickup struck the rear of Sanders’ Tundra, causing the Tundra to travel into the southbound lanes, striking the driver’s side of Blackwell’s Accent, a highway patrol report stated.

Brown was taken to Mease Countryside hospital with serious injuries. Sanders was airlifted to Bayfront Medical Center with serious injuries. Blackwell suffered minor injuries, but did not go to the hospital.

Brown was ticketed for driving on a suspended license.

A secondary crash occurred as a driver from Clearwater swerved to avoid the first wreck. A 44-year-old Holiday woman was seriously injured.

See Also:

• Holiday Woman Seriously Injured in Clearwater Crash