Crime & Safety
Local Teens Injured During Early Morning Crash
Authorities: A 23-year-old driver, who has addresses in Wesley Chapel and Largo, allegedly hit a parked car so hard it overturned. He fled the scene but later turned himself in.
A 23-year-old motorist has turned himself into authorities after ditching the scene of an accident that injured two local teens.
The incident unfolded early Saturday morning when Matthew John West, who has addresses in Wesley Chapel and Largo, drove his 1983 Chevy Blazer north on Sunlake Drive north of County Line Road, according to Florida Highway Patrol.
Authorities say West smashed into the rear of a 2003 Nissan SUV parked at the dead end of the street. Inside the SUV were Kaylee Baer, 16, and Frank Vasquez, 17, both of Lutz.
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“The impact caused (the SUV) to rotate counter-clockwise and overturn onto its right side,” according to the FHP report.
The Chevy Blazer also overturned and West fled the scene on foot, officials said, yet he later turned himself in to authorities around 2:30 p.m. Saturday and said that he was involved in the incident.
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Both teens were taken to St. Joseph’s Hospital with serious injuries.
The report states charges are pending, and the incident remains under investigation.
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