A Wesley Chapel car accident involving two vehicles claims the life of two people, including a 1-year-old child, when a vehicle crossed the center lane and into oncoming traffic. The incident took place at approximately 8:00 PM on Thursday evening, January 7, 2010, north of Tampa.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, a 2010 Cadillac sport utility vehicle (SUV) driven by Raul Bertran Jr., 67, of Brandon, was heading south on Bruce B. Downs when he crossed the center lane and into oncoming traffic. The SUV slammed into a 2004 blue Honda, which was traveling northbound.
Bertran was pronounced dead at the scene from injuries sustained in the accident.
There were three passengers riding in the Honda at the time of the accident, including 1-year-old Jaylin Dominguez. Dominguez, of Tampa, was rushed to a nearby hospital where the child died two days later.
The driver of the Honda, Nadine Maldonado, 20, of Tampa, and passenger Simon Dominguez, 25, of Wesley Chapel, were transported to St. Joseph’s Hospital and treated for injuries. Their injuries were described as serious, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
The fatal Wesley Chapel accident is still under investigation by local authorities. Officials have not determined why Bertran crossed the center lane.
