Holiday Woman Seriously Injured in Clearwater Crash

A 44-year-old Holiday woman is in critical condition following a crash along U.S. 19 at 298th Avenue North.

According to the Florida Highway Patrol, Arvin Mendiola, 42, of Clearwater was heading north on U.S. 19 in the inside lane around 7:54 a.m. when the wreck occurred. At the same time, a Nissan Sentra was also heading north in the outside center lane.

When another crash happened in front of Mendiola, he swerved to avoid a wreck, but ended up hitting the Sentra, troopers wrote in a report. The Sentra overturned in the crash.

Mendiola and his 14-year-old passenger were uninjured in the crash. The Sentra’s driver, who has not yet been identified, was airlifted to St. Joseph’s Hospital in Tampa.

Charges are pending.

Photo courtesy of the Florida Highway Patrol