Based upon the preliminary information at the time of this release, the following circumstances are believed to have led to this incident which remains under investigation:
On February 9th at 2:12 AM, Vehicle 1 was traveling southbound on Interstate 275 in the northbound lanes. Vehicle 2 was traveling northbound on Interstate 275. Just north of the Busch Boulevard exit near the 50 milepost, Vehicle 1 collided head-on with Vehicle 2 in the center lane of travel. Both vehicles came to final rest in the roadway. Vehicle 1 subsequently caught fire and became completely engulfed. Vehicle 2 suffered partial fire damage to the front of the vehicle. Driver 1 sustained fatal injuries and expired at the scene of the crash. Driver 2 and all three passengers in Vehicle 2 also sustained fatal injuries and all expired at the scene of the crash.
Update: On February 11th the Hillsborough County Medical Examiner positively identified Driver 1 as Daniel Lee Morris. Morris, 28, recently moved to Tampa from St. Claire Shores, Michigan and had been residing with a friend, Scott Eric Enfinger, 27, of Tampa. On February 9th Morris had taken Enfinger’s 2001 Ford Expedition and shortly thereafter was involved in the wrong-way crash. State Troopers continue to attempt to determine where Morris entered the interstate and whether drugs or alcohol played a role in the crash. This crash remains under investigation.
Source: Florida Highway Patrol
