[5-17-22] 5 Kids Badly Hurt in Pasco After ‘Impaired and Tired’ Driver Causes Crash, Troopers Say

May 17, 2022
7:40 am

Six people in a sport-utility vehicle — five of them children — were seriously or critically injured in a crash on Interstate 75 in Pasco County early Monday morning that the Florida Highway Patrol said was caused by an “impaired and tired driver.”

The crash occurred about 2:15 a.m. in the southbound lanes of I-75 approaching mile post 289. Ashley Clairmonte, 26, of Tampa, was driving a 2015 Buick Encore, but was impaired and tired and stopped in the inside lane, troopers said in a news release.

The driver of a 2004 Chevy Tracker hit the Buick from behind. The Buick overturned and the Chevy rotated into the outside lane.

Troopers said Clairmonte ran away from the scene into a nearby tree line. She later returned after troopers arrived and was arrested on charges of DUI with serious injury and leaving the scene of a crash. She was taken to the Pasco County Jail.

Troopers said the 24-year-old woman driving the Chevy was from Philadelphia, as were the five children in the vehicle with her — a 10-year-old girl, a 6-year-old girl, an 8-year-old girl, a 6-year-old boy and a 1-year-old girl.

The 1-year-old suffered critical injuries, while the woman and all the other children were seriously injured.

Troopers said only the driver and the 10-year-old girl were restrained in the vehicle at the time of the crash.

No other details, including the names of the woman and children, were released.

Source: https://www.tampabay.com/news/pasco/2022/05/16/5-kids-badly-hurt-in-pasco-after-impaired-and-tired-driver-causes-crash-troopers-say/

(Credit: Tampa Bay Times)

Meet Our Team

Sean K. McQuaid

Read Sean's Profile

Jonathon W. Douglas

Read Jonathon's Profile

Taylor Shallenburg

Read Taylor's Profile

Free Police Report

If you or a loved one were involved in or affected by this accident and would like the incident’s official Police Report, Personal Injury Attorneys McQuaid & Douglas might be able to help.

CAR ACCIDENT STATISTICS

Car accidents happen all too often in the United States. According to the U.S. Transportation Department, the number of traffic deaths nationwide surged in the first nine months of 2021 to 31,720. The number was 12 percent higher than the same period in 2020 and the highest nine-month figure since 2006.

The bustling cities of Florida are a hotbed for possible car accidents. Highways such as the I-4, US-1, and I-10, are some of the deadliest roadways in Florida and unfortunately provide many opportunities for potentially serious car accidents.

Following the nationwide trend, Florida car accidents have also been on the rise. According to the Florida Highway Patrol and Motor Vehicles database, statewide fatalities from crashes were up nearly 10 percent from 3,332 fatalities in 2020 to 3,629 in 2021. It was also ranked third most dangerous state to drive in, according to a report by Uplift Legal Funding.

There are many different types of car accidents, but multi-vehicle accidents are one of them. When two or more cars come together, accidents like this happen all the time. You have a good chance that three vehicles will be hit when two vehicles hit each other.

A variety of factors caused these collisions. Distracted driving, speeding, driving while intoxicated, reckless driving, driving in bad weather, driving the wrong way, and failing to obey traffic laws are examples of dangerous behaviors.

FLORIDA CAR ACCIDENT LAWYERS FOR VICTIMS OF MULTI-VEHICLE COLLISIONS

Personal Injury Attorneys McQuaid and Douglas specializes in car accidents which unfortunately may lead to death. Family members have the right to receive damages for wrongful death, medical bills, and other expenses.

Fatal car accidents are grave tragedies that impact the lives of so many people involved. Although a wrongful death lawsuit can’t reverse your loss, it’s a small step toward holding negligent people answerable.

Families might need to make sacrifices to pay for these expensive yet necessary medical care treatments. If you or a loved one has been involved in a fatal car accident, contact us now.

Our Florida car accident lawyers understand the intricacies involved in tackling these severe and psychological scenarios, and we cater to all our customer’s needs.

Our car accident lawyer in Florida might have the ability to receive compensation for your injuries, medical expenses, loss of wages, pain, and suffering, along with other road traffic accident-related fees. Call Personal Injury Attorneys McQuaid and Douglas today at (727) 381-2300 or (813) 639-811. In addition you can contact us online to schedule your free no-obligation car accident case review.