Details Released in Fiery Veterans Expressway Crash

TAMPA, FL — The Florida Highway Patrol has released more information about a two-vehicle Saturday morning crash on the Veterans Expressway that left two men dead and a third injured.

According to the patrol, Anwar Daqud Askar, 54, of Tampa was heading north on the expressway in the outside lane at a high rate of speed around 2:20 a.m. Oct. 22. Askar’s vehicle overtook a Pontiac in front of it, but struck the car in the rear.

Troopers say the Pontiac was forced to the outside shoulder. It then hit a concrete traffic barrier, coming to rest on the exit ramp to Independence Parkway. At that time, the Pontiac became fully engulfed in flames, a highway patrol report said.

Askar’s vehicle also struck a concrete traffic barrier after the initial collision, the report said.

Both people in the Pontiac died at the scene, the report said. They have been identified as Jesus Emanuel Lanzo, 33, of Tampa and Carlos Angler Quinones Perez, 33, of Tampa.

Askar was taken to Tampa General Hospital with serious injuries. He now faces two counts of DUI manslaughter and vehicular homicide, the patrol said.

The crash closed the Veterans Expressway’s northbound lanes until 11:40 a.m. Oct. 22.

No further information is being released at this time.

Photo courtesy of the Florida Highway Patrol