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Friend recalls teen driver killed on I-275 as 'great guy.'

News Channel 8 photo by TODD DAVIS

This GMC Jimmy swerved, hit the center guardrail then flipped 360 degrees onto its wheels at the Fourth Street North exit about 10:25 a.m., said Lt. Joel Granata. The driver was ejected and killed.

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TBO.com

Published: June 4, 2009

Updated: 06/05/2009 01:48 pm

A driver killed Thursday morning after his SUV hit a guardrail after exiting Interstate 275 has been identified by St. Petersburg police as 17-year-old Travis Kyle Martin of Tampa.

Martin was going north on Fourth Street North about 10:25 a.m. when he lost control of his 2000 GMC Jimmy, authorities say. The GMC swerved, hit the center guardrail, then flipped 360 degrees onto its wheels at the Fourth Street North exit, said St. Petersburg Fire and Rescue Lt. Joel Granata.

Martin, of 12917 Woodleigh Avenue, was ejected from the SUV. He died at the scene. A passenger in the SUV, Cameron Castellano, was taken to Bayfront Medical Center with injuries that were not life-threatening, police say.

In an email to TBO.com, a friend recalled Martin as an intelligent teen and a good musician.

Martin "was a great kid and a great friend.," Amber Biscevic wrote "He was one of the most talented drummers that I know and was really really smart. He had a good head on his shoulders and a a good heart to go with it. He was funny and smart and knew when it was time to stop the jokes. He picked up his little sister from Adam's Middle School every day to make sure she got home safe. He was a great guy, and not to mention very handsome. We're all going to miss him very much."

Biscevic said the news shocked her.

"I didn't even believe it when I heard the news," she wrote. "Isaid 'not Travis Martin. maybe a different Travis. Travis Martin can't be dead,'. I hope that wherever he is he's got his favorite drum kit and his favorite music playing. R.I.P. Travis Martin."

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