TAMPA, Fla. — A woman died and two others were hurt after a crash on Thursday, according to a release from the Tampa Police Department.
Officers said it happened around 10:15 p.m., just over 24 hours after Hurricane Milton made landfall in Siesta Key, bringing devastating impacts across the region. Police responded to the intersection of Florida Avenue and Palm Avenue as there were widespread power outages, causing many intersections and traffic signals to go dark.
This intersection was dark and the traffic lights weren't working, the release said.
A 2005 Nissan Sentra hit the passenger side of a 2022 Hyundai Tucson.
The passenger in the Tucson, a 55-year-old woman, was pronounced dead at the scene.
The driver of the Hyundai, a 35-year-old man, was not injured. The driver of the Nissan, a 58-year-old man, was seriously injured and taken to a nearby hospital. He is expected to survive.
"We are deeply saddened by the tragic loss of life that occurred,” Tampa Police Chief Lee Bercaw said in a statement. “This incident serves as a stark reminder of the importance of traveling safely, especially in the aftermath of Hurricane Milton. All drivers are urged to be extra cautious, especially at intersections, and to treat non-functioning traffic signals as four-way stops. Let's work together to prevent such tragedies in the future."
According to the Florida Department of Transportation, if a traffic light is flashing red, come to a complete stop an treat it as if it were a four-way stop sign, meaning the first to arrive at the light has the right-of-way. If two vehicles arrive at the light at the same time, the vehicle furthest right has the right-of-way.
If the lights are flashing yellow, proceed with caution and be prepared to yield to oncoming traffic. However, if an officer is present, follow their directions.
Inoperable lights should also be reported to FDOT through its customer service portal.
