Lakeland Woman Dies In Pickup Crash

The debate about which vehicle is safer, a car or a larger truck or SUV has raged for decades. While people point to a higher center of gravity and increased risk of a rollover in a larger truck or SUV, there are some things that inherently make a truck safer. One thing is the size and weight of the vehicle. Physics indicates that a heavier vehicle will suffer an impact better, transferring less of the force to its occupants. Smaller vehicles mean that more force is placed on occupants, thus resulting in more injuries. Now that trucks have some of the same safety features as cars – airbags, seat belts, and other advancements that help prevent crashes, some agree that trucks or SUVs are the safer vehicle.

The Tampa Bay Times reports that a pickup truck with five teens inside crashed, killing one and injuring the other four.

17-year-old Ruben Ramirez of Lakeland was behind the wheel of a Ford truck that was heading eastbound on Interstate 4. At around 7 p.m., he lost control of the truck for unknown reasons.

The truck traveled off the left side of the road and struck the center guardrail, then flipped. The vehicle came to a stop on the westbound side of the interstate.

Ramirez suffered from serious injuries in the crash. 19-year-old Tristan Green, 17-year-old Kira Barclay, and 16-year-old Raymond Ramirez all suffered from minor injuries. 18-year-old Stephanie Carroll suffered from catastrophic injuries.

Ramirez and Barclay were taken to Tampa General Hospital for treatment. Carroll was also taken to the same hospital, where she succumbed to her injuries.

Everyone in the vehicle was wearing a seatbelt and alcohol is not believed to have been a factor. Charges are pending in the accident.