Racing Car Collides, Cuts Pickup Truck In Half, Killing Tampa Driver

TAMPA, FL — State troopers have recovered a 2008 Dodge Caliber SRT4 they believe was involved in a fatal drag race on May 23.

At 1:16 p.m., a car driven by a 33-year-old Tampa man and a car driven by an unknown person were speeding south on U.S. 41, north of South 16th Street, when a pickup truck driven by a 26-year-old Tampa man attempted to turn left and was struck by the car driven by the 33-year-old.

The impact split the pickup truck in half with the bed of the truck coming to rest in the northbound lanes and the front section of the truck overturning in the southbound lanes.

After crashing into the pickup truck, the 33-year-old's car rotated to the center turn lane and collided with a tractor-trailer truck driven by a 36-year-old Brandon man, who was stopped and waiting to turn east onto South 16th Avenue.

The car with the unknown driver was able to avoid hitting the pickup truck and continued south on U.S. 41, fleeing the scene.

The driver of the pickup truck died at the scene.

Troopers have now recovered the Dodge Caliber they believe is the fourth car involved in the crash. The car was found at a distribution center off 50th Street, south of State Road 60.

Troopers are in contact with the car's owner and say charges are pending.