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U.S. 301 Reopened After Head-On Crash

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TBO.com

Published: February 25, 2009

Updated: 02/25/2009 06:07 pm

TAMPA - The northbound and southbound lanes of U.S. 301 between Stacy and Mango roads have reopened following a head-on crash between a Publix tractor-trailer and a sport utility vehicle, the Florida Highway Patrol said.

The driver of the 2001 Nissan SUV, 35-year-old Eliud Velazque of Brandon, was taken to Tampa General Hospital in serious condition. Velazque was conscious and talking to hospital staff when he was admitted into the emergency room, highway patrol spokesman Sgt. Steve Gaskins said.

Kipp Stephens, 45, the driver of the tractor-trailer, was not hurt.

The highway patrol gives this account of what happened on U.S. 301 at 1:07 p.m.:

Velazque was driving north on the highway, weaving in and out traffic until just north of Mango Road. The Nissan went over the center line of the road and into the path of the southbound tractor-trailer.

Stephens tried to steer the Publix truck onto the side of the road to avoid the collision, but the SUV struck the rear-wheels of the box trailer.

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