Three people died and one person was injured early Sunday when a fast-moving vehicle flipped over an Interstate 75 northbound overpass in the Brandon area and plunged onto the road below, officials said.
The vehicle landed on Woodberry Road north of State Road 60 and caught fire, Hillsborough County Fire Rescue said.
When Hillsborough County firefighters arrived on the scene they found a 2005 Maserati with significant damage and about 50% of it on fire.
They extinguished the fire and confirmed two fatalities in the vehicle and two other people - a man and woman - had been ejected from the vehicle. The man was confirmed dead, and the woman was taken to Tampa General Hospital for treatment of serious, life threatening injuries.
The dead has been identified as Ronald L. Green II, 31; Sariyah Green, 9; and Ronald L. Green III, 5; all of Bartow. The injured woman was Tiffany Lasha Young, 26, of Bartow.
Ronald Green III and Sariyah Green were both students at Spessard L. Holland Elementary School. The school's principal, Melody Butler, released a statement on their deaths:
We are deeply saddened by the deaths of Ronald Green III and Sariyah Green.
Spessard L. Holland Elementary is like a large family, and the tragic loss of two young members is shocking and painful. They will be greatly missed, and our thoughts and prayers go out to their family members and loved ones.
A crisis team is available on campus today for any students or staff members who would like counseling.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, the Maserati was traveling northbound on I-75 north of State Road 60 when Ronald Green II lost control of the car shortly before 2:30 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 6. The Maserati entered the center median, collided with a guardrail and concrete barrier wall then overturned over the barrier wall.
The Maserati fell between the I-75 NB and SB lanes, landing on Woodberry Road. Ronald Green II and Tiffany Lasha Young were thrown from the vehicle. The car caught fire. Ronald Green and his two children suffered fatal injuries and died at the scene.
The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating.
I-75 NB has reopened to traffic. Woodberry Road remained closed Sunday morning during the FHP investigation.
