Passenger Killed After Car Leaves Road, Strikes Palm Tree in Brandon

BRANDON, FL — One young man was killed and a second was injured in a single-vehicle wreck early Wednesday on Brandon Parkway, according to the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office.

The deceased, a passenger in the car, has been identified as Ivan Ordonez, 23, of the 4000 block of Lithia Ridge Boulevard in Valrico. The driver, Andrew John Wallace, 25, of the 1900 block of Canyonwood Court in Valrico, suffered injuries that were not life threatening.

According to law enforcement, Wallace was driving a 2003 Nissan 350Z at 12:23 a.m., heading eastbound on Brandon Parkway at a high rate of speed.

"As he approached the right curve in the roadway near Pauls Drive, he was unable to safely negotiate the curve," according to Cristal Nunez, a Hillsborough Sheriff's spokesperson. "The Nissan drove onto a raised concrete median and struck a palm tree with the passenger side door."

Ordonez died at the scene and Wallace was transported to Tampa General.

Charges are pending a toxicology report, according to Nunez.