One dead, four injured in U.S. 19 crash

[Photo by Eamon Kneeshaw]
View more photos from the scene

PINELLAS PARK -- A person was killed and four injured when a sedan and a St. Petersburg Times delivery truck crashed on U.S. 19 this morning, police said.

The accident occurred just after 2 a.m. in the northbound lane of U.S. 19 near Gateway Center Boulevard, police said.

The vehicles, a 1993 Chevy Caprice carrying four passengers, and a Times truck both were found on the northbound lane of the road, officials said. The Caprice, driven by Desmond King, 22, had been traveling south on U.S. 19 when it crossed the median and veered in front of the northbound truck, driven by Mark Zampella, 55, said Capt. Sandy Forseth of the Pinellas Park Police Department.

"The car crossed the median. Why or what the reason was we don't know," Forseth said.

The truck's front crashed into the right passenger side of the car. When authorities arrived, the sedan was upside down and the truck was on its side.

The right rear passenger, Patrick Murphy, 22, of Largo, was killed on impact, police said. King was injured, as was left rear passenger David Rollins, 22, and right front passenger, Ross Turnquist, 24, who was ejected at impact. All three, as well as Vanpalla were taken to Bayfront Medical Center. Zampella was later released, but the other three remained in the hospital, Forseth said.

The four men in the car were returning from a night out in Ybor City, Forseth said. The crash is being investigated as a possible DUI, he said.

U.S. 19 at the intersection of Mainlands Boulevard was closed until 8:30 a.m.

-Luis Perez, Times staff writer

*