[5-17-22] 5 Kids Badly Hurt in Pasco After ‘Impaired and Tired’ Driver Causes Crash, Troopers Say

Six people in a sport-utility vehicle — five of them children — were seriously or critically injured in a crash on Interstate 75 in Pasco County early Monday morning that the Florida Highway Patrol said was caused by an “impaired and tired driver.”

The crash occurred about 2:15 a.m. in the southbound lanes of I-75 approaching mile post 289. Ashley Clairmonte, 26, of Tampa, was driving a 2015 Buick Encore, but was impaired and tired and stopped in the inside lane, troopers said in a news release.

The driver of a 2004 Chevy Tracker hit the Buick from behind. The Buick overturned and the Chevy rotated into the outside lane.

Troopers said Clairmonte ran away from the scene into a nearby tree line. She later returned after troopers arrived and was arrested on charges of DUI with serious injury and leaving the scene of a crash. She was taken to the Pasco County Jail.

Troopers said the 24-year-old woman driving the Chevy was from Philadelphia, as were the five children in the vehicle with her — a 10-year-old girl, a 6-year-old girl, an 8-year-old girl, a 6-year-old boy and a 1-year-old girl.

The 1-year-old suffered critical injuries, while the woman and all the other children were seriously injured.

Troopers said only the driver and the 10-year-old girl were restrained in the vehicle at the time of the crash.

No other details, including the names of the woman and children, were released.

Source: https://www.tampabay.com/news/pasco/2022/05/16/5-kids-badly-hurt-in-pasco-after-impaired-and-tired-driver-causes-crash-troopers-say/

(Credit: Tampa Bay Times)

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CAR ACCIDENT STATISTICS

Car accidents remain a major safety concern across the United States. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, an estimated 39,345 people died in traffic crashes nationwide in 2024. Traffic deaths decreased from 2023, but serious and fatal crashes continue to affect thousands of families each year.

Florida continues to see hundreds of thousands of crashes annually. According to Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, there were 381,210 reportable traffic crashes in Florida in 2024. Those crashes resulted in 3,184 deaths.

The problem also affects St. Petersburg and Pinellas County. In 2024, Pinellas County recorded more than 14,000 motor vehicle traffic crashes.

Car accidents can involve two vehicles, several vehicles, pedestrians, motorcycles, or commercial trucks. Multi-vehicle crashes can become especially complicated because more than one driver may share responsibility and several insurance policies may apply.

Common factors that can contribute to serious car accidents include:

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If you or someone you love has been injured in a crash, a St. Petersburg car accident lawyer can investigate what happened and help determine which parties and insurance policies may be responsible.

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When a car accident results in the loss of a loved one, eligible family members may also be able to pursue a wrongful death claim. Although compensation cannot undo the loss, a wrongful death claim can help families pursue accountability and recover damages allowed under Florida law.

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