Vehicle 1, believed to be a silver or gray Chrysler 300, was traveling westbound on I-4 at a high rate of speed. Just east of Exit 19 (Thonotosassa Road), Vehicle 1 overtook and while passing Vehicle 2, a Polk County Fire Rescue ambulance transporting a 40-year-old female stroke patient to a Tampa area hospital with emergency equipment activated, collided with the left rear of the vehicle.
Following the collision, Vehicle 1 continued westbound on I-4 while the ambulance was driven to a controlled stop along the shoulder of the highway. The stroke patient was airlifted from the crash scene for advanced medical care. The two paramedics in the ambulance were uninjured during the event. The ambulance driver described the suspect vehicle as having significant passenger-side damage.
Anyone who witnessed the crash or possesses information regarding this incident is asked to call the Highway Patrol at *FHP (*347) or Crime Stoppers at **TIPS.
Sergeant Steve Gaskins
Florida Highway Patrol