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1 dead, 1 injured after car crashes into tree in Manatee County

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MANATEE COUNTY, Fla. — A man is dead, and another is injured after their SUV crashed into a tree in Manatee County early Monday morning.

The Florida Highway Patrol said the SUV was stopped for traffic on Verna Bethany Road and State Road 64 around 3:16 a.m. Its driver, 23, then attempted to make a left turn onto the westbound lane of State Road 64 but lost control of the vehicle.

The SUV then traveled off the road, entered the shoulder, overturned and collided with the tree.

The passenger of the SUV, a 22-year-old man, was ejected from the vehicle and pronounced dead at the scene. FHP said he was not wearing a seatbelt.

This crash is still being investigated.

'Cruise lights' on Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office patrol cars raise questions, confusion among drivers

Every driver knows that when you see red and blue flashing lights on a patrol car, you slow down, pull over, or get out of the way.

But in Hillsborough County, drivers will also now see deputies with their lights on, but not flashing. They're called "cruise lights," and the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office (HCSO) recently implemented their use on all patrol vehicles.

"Cruise lights" on HCSO patrol cars raise questions and confusion among drivers