Tampa Man Charged With Fatal Crash During Drag Race

TAMPA, FL—A Tampa man spent his 31st birthday in jail after causing a fatal car accident while drag racing on West Slight Avenue Tuesday morning.

According to Tampa police, Joseph Obregon, who turned 31 years old Tuesday, was stopped at a red light on West Sligh Avenue at about 10:34 a.m.. Witnesses said he was revving the engine of his 2012 Dodge Ram, preparing to drag race the driver of a white pickup truck beside him.

The two trucks took off, traveling west on West Sligh Avenue at speeds of up to 70 mph when Obregon struck a 2008 Toyota RAV 4 that was crossing West Sligh Avenue at Florida Avenue.

The impact of the crash caused the RAV 4 to strike a TECO electric pole, killing the passenger in the Toyota, William Val Swartz, and causing critical injuries to the driver. After hitting the Toyota, Obregon’s truck then slammed into a 2011 Honda Accord, causing minor injuries to the Honda’s driver.

Obregon, of 4102 W. Broad St., Tampa, was charged with vehicular homicide, reckless driving with serious bodily injury, reckless driving with injury, property damage and illegal street racing.

Police are still trying to locate the driver of the white pickup truck.

Image via Hillsborough County Jail