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Three dead in 4-vehicle crash on U.S. 301 in Thonotosassa

Posted at 10:29 AM, Jul 02, 2016
and last updated 2016-07-03 08:08:52-04

Three people died early Saturday morning in a four-vehicle traffic crash on U.S. 301 near Stacy Road, authorities said.

The crash occurred shortly after 5:30 a.m. Saturday when a silver VW Beetle tried to overtake and pass a southbound vehicle on U.S. 301. The Beetle collided head-on with a 1999 Ford Explorer.

The impact caused a 2013 Ford F150 to slam into the rear of the Explorer then a 1994 Chevy 210 rammed the Ford F150.

Elisa Chantelriquelme, 28, of Zephyrhills, the driver of the Beetle, and the driver of the Explorer, Matthew Alfonso Garcis, 24,  of Riverview and his passenger, Corey Samuel Dorman, 24, of Seffner, died at the scene, according to authorities.

Gordon Jones Price of Tampa, the driver of the F150 was uninjured. Stevie Tyrone Gainey of Tampa, the driver of the S10, and Bradley Ferris of Tampa, a passenger in the F150, were taken to Florida Hospital for treatment of minor injuries. Alvin Paul Taylor of Seffner, another passenger in the F150, was uninjured.

FHP Sgt. Allan Carter said the crash happened in a no passing zone. Authorities are looking into that, but they have not said whether that may have played a role in this crash. Sgt. Carter wanted to remind drivers the importance of no passing zones.
 
"You're not allowed to pass 100 feet before a bridge and you have to make sure you pass in a safe and appropriate manner -not to interfere with any traffic," Sgt. Carter said.
 
U.S.  301 was initially shutdown a little more than 5 hours as troopers investigated the crash. The cause of the crash remains under investigation.