ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – A devastating collision between a tow truck and an SUV has claimed the lives of two people and left a 9-year-old boy fighting for his life.
The accident occurred shortly before 5 p.m. on Wednesday at the intersection of 5th Avenue South and 20th Street South. Shakesha Desence, 35, was driving a Honda CR-V and attempting a left turn when her vehicle collided with a tow truck traveling westbound.
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Desence was rushed to Orlando Health Bayfront Hospital but tragically succumbed to her injuries. Her passenger, 71-year-old Dilean Desence, was pronounced dead at the scene. A 9-year-old boy, also a passenger in the CR-V and grandson of Dilean Desence, sustained serious injuries and was transported to Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital, where he remains in critical condition.
The driver of the tow truck remained at the scene and is cooperating with the police investigation. Authorities have not yet released the identity of the tow truck driver.
The intersection was closed for several hours while investigators processed the scene. The St. Petersburg Police Department is continuing to investigate the cause of the crash.
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