5 are hospitalized in wreck on U.S. 301

By Times staff writer

© St. Petersburg Times, published July 28, 2000

ZEPHYRHILLS -- A two-vehicle crash sent five people to area hospitals Thursday night, but a witness and family member reported all appeared alert and conscious as they were taken away by ambulance and helicopter.

The two vehicles, a brown Ford Pinto station wagon and a blue GMC Jimmy sport utility vehicle, collided just south of Zephyrhills about 6:40 p.m. on U.S. 301, about 100 yards north of the highway's merge with State Road 39.

Dee Braxton said her granddaughter, 24-year-old Melissa Braxton, was driving the Pinto when it was apparently broadsided by the Jimmy. Florida Highway Patrol troopers on the scene did not immediately know the name of the other driver.

Dee Braxton said her granddaughter was thrown out of her car on impact. Also inside the car was another granddaughter, Lesli Grace Heston, 14, and two great-granddaughters, Heather Braxton, 9, and Gabrielle Braxton, 3.

Dee Braxton said Lesli appeared the most seriously injured and was taken by helicopter to a Tampa hospital.

She was cut from the vehicle by rescue crews using pneumatic tools, but appeared conscious, Dee Braxton said. The crash tied up traffic south of Zephyrhills for about 40 minutes, closing one lane of U.S. 301.

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