Update: 1 Dead Following Crash Involving Squirrel

A 68-year-old Carlton, Texas, man has died following a four-vehicle crash last week that closed State Road 54 lanes in the Trinity area for a time March 31.

According to the Florida Highway Patrol, Salim M. Mitha died Sunday from injuries sustained during the wreck. The accident happened around 10:40 a.m. as Leah Cole, 38, of New Port Richey was traveling east on 54 near Trophy Boulevard.

Cole, troopers say, stopped in the center lane for a small animal.

When she did a Volkswagen traveling behind her, driven by Brandon Kelleher, 18, of New Port Richey, changed lanes to avoid a crash. Kelleher, however, was unable to avoid a collision and ended up striking Cole’s vehicle and a Dodge van driven by Daniel Williams, 65, of Land O’ Lakes.

The impact caused Williams’ van to travel over the median and into the westbound lanes of State Road 54, troopers say.

Williams’ van struck a 2008 Toyota pickup truck head-on driven by Mitha head-on. He was taken to Bayonet Point Medical Center following the crash, a highway patrol report stated.

Williams suffered minor injuries and was taken to a local hospital for treatment. Both Cole and Kelleher suffered minor injuries, but did not go to the hospital.

While the highway patrol’s report did not identify the animal involved, patrol spokesman Sgt. Steve Gaskins said on Monday that he was told it was a squirrel.

Charges are pending further investigation.

Photo courtesy of the Florida Highway Patrol

Editor’s note: This article was updated April 7 at 5:49 p.m. to reflect a correction issued by the Florida Highway Patrol. The deceased man was initially misidentified in FHP reports.

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