HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, Fla. — A Hillsborough County Fire medic is dead after a car accident took his life Tuesday afternoon on State Road 50, Fire Rescue officials said.
Fifty-year-old Steven Haberland, from Dade City, was reportedly off-duty traveling eastbound in the inside lane of State Road 50 just west of Olympia Road before he tried to pass another car through the center grass median, Florida Highway Patrol said in a news release.
Haberland lost control of his car, rotating across the travel lanes before striking a fence along the south shoulder and hitting a tree. The medic wasn't wearing his seatbelt and died from his injuries at the scene, Patrol said.
On Facebook, Hillsborough County Fire Rescue said Haberland leaves behind "a legacy of dedication, bravery and service."
"He was more than a brother and coworker to us; he was a cherished member of our family," the Fire Rescue said in the post.
Fire Rescue added they are taking the time to not only mourn the loss of Haberland but also celebrate the impact he had on people in his community. Officials said he will be remembered for his devotion to helping others and "heroic contributions" to Hillsborough County.
