2 Killed, 1 Seriously Injured In 4-Car Pileup On U.S. 301: Troopers

THONOTOSASSA — A 32-year-old Tampa woman and a 53-year-old Pennsylvania man died early Thursday morning in a fiery four-car pileup involving a semi on U.S. Highway 301, the Florida Highway Patrol said.

The Tampa woman drove her SUV northbound on U.S. 301 just south of Mcintosh Road when troopers said she switched into a southbound lane and crashed head-on into a pickup truck at 2:53 a.m. The truck then burst into flames. Meanwhile, the Pennsylvania man, who had been walking along the highway, saw the fire and ran over to the truck to help. A

A few minutes later, a semi, driven by a Port Charlotte man, on U.S. 301 northbound smashed into the Tampa woman's SUV and into the man who was trying to help. A pickup truck, driven by a 62-year-old Zephyrhills man, had been sideswiped by the semi on U.S. 301 southbound.

According to troopers, a medical examiner pronounced the Tampa woman dead at the crash location. The pedestrian died at a local hospital.

The driver of the pickup truck that burst into flames was airlifted to a hospital where he was last listed in serious condition. Trooper did not say where he was from.