Driver identified in wreck off I-275 ramp in St. Petersburg

ST. PETERSBURG -- A 23-year-old driver on Interstate 275 was killed Monday night when his car careened off an elevated exit ramp and plummeted three stories down, authorities said.

LEFT: St. Petersburg Fire Rescue workers investigate the scene under Interstate 375 after an accident there Monday evening. [JAMES BORCHUCK | Times]

Leonardo Llana's 1993 two-door Mitsubishi was southbound on the highway around 8:35 p.m. when it exited onto the I-375 ramp toward downtown St. Petersburg, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. The car lost control, hitting the exit's outside wall and flipping.

The car fell about 45 feet and landed in a city maintenance yard. Llana was ejected and died at the scene.

Lt. Joel Granata, a fire department spokesman, said another motorist on the road called 911 to say that a driver had hit the guardrail and gone over. When firefighters got there, they didn't see a vehicle on the road.

A truck driver on I-375 died two years ago when his tanker crashed and exploded, sending flames and thousands of gallons of burning fuel over the side of the highway. The road was severely damaged, demolished and reopened about a month later. In 2001, a motorcyclist died on the exit after crashing into the wall and falling over the edge.

Luis Perez and Drew Harwell, Times staff writers

*

Comments

[windowsugar]

family PLEASE contact me. tampas back door blog. I have photographic evidence of how many people have HIT THAT WALL AFTER THEY REPAINTED IT when the trucker died and they won't admit that it is DANGEROUS.
VERY DANGEROUS.
I hope you sue FDOT for the entire state.

[mrknowitall]

sad how a life snuffed out in the blink of an eye. Prayers for the family left behind

[ms.uruhu 727]

yeah that is very sad i think they needs to sue fdot also

[nickatdabeach]

I agree, seems FDOT engineers rely on computer models more than common sense. Hate to think of attorney payouts in these cases but something must be done with the bozos in Tally. I'm grief-striken about the loss of life statewide.. year after year.

[TFA]

Listen to all you boneheads... it's ya hoos like yourself who have the court system screwed up with so many frivilous lawsuits... Has anybody had a thought that maybe the guy was speeding...Oh wait! that would mean you would have to think for a second.

[taxpaying gal]

Dear Windowsugar,ms.uhuru 727 and nickatdabeach,

You're ALL idiots!! If you had brains, you'd take them out and play with them in your laps.

There is nothing wrong with that section of roadway provided you slow down to the very clearly posted speed limit......unfortunately, some people think they're above the laws and rules, and thus, this sort of thing happens.

My heart goes out to the family of this crash victim. Very, very sad. But it would just make matters worse for the taxpayers of this city to have to shell out more money for other peoples mishaps that they themselves really could've avoided.

[beaccountable]

Windowsugar:

I travel that part of interstate (I-375) at least 6 times a day. I survive because i'm doing the SPEED LIMIT!!! I can't count the amount of times that boneheads are driving over 55 mhp - the SPPED LIMIT on that part of interstate by the way - so SLOW DOWN PEOPLE AND GET OFF YOUR CELL PHONES FOR ONCE IN YOUR LIFE, IF NOT FOR THE LAST TIME OF YOUR LIFE...

[nickatdabeach]

I stand by my previous my statement, despite disparaging comments from the peanut gallery - yea you

[Kattitude]

I have driven that stretch many times also, it clearly states a speed limit, possibly distractions also played a factor in this. RIP whether you were speeding really doesn't mean a rats Patoohey to a family member who now knows a loved one won't be coming home.

[Sandra]

Im sorry for the family's loss, but geez everytime someone screws up, the first thing they try to do is find someone else to blame. Speed kills, it's a fact. I would expect a lawsuit from someone like uhuru727 but c'mon guys, really?

[windowsugar]

With all the hours I have logged driving in many different situations I am probably as good a driver as you'll find. I'm also very observant.
Remember the truck that exploded and they had to rebuild that whole deathtrap??

For MONTHS before that I had been taking that exit at a NORMAL speed driving and as a passenger. If you're not on your cellphone at certain times of the evening and day that curve almost disappears. At night for about 8 seconds you canNOT see it.
I observed aloud and repeatedly that the exit was dangerous. Then I got interested in the WHY of it because the replacement to merge onto I4 in tampa also has that 'not-quite-safe' feel where the other one was VERY adequate.
Hey instead of yapping at ME why not find out if these other posters are PROFITING FROM TEARING down perfectly servicable ramps and replacing them with shiny and dangerous MONEY TRAPS. hmmmm?
At any rate .... I started documenting the number of marks on the wall where cars had gone up the wall and/or careened off it. There would be a new one every week or so. All of these people can't be drunk or speeding.
So, when the trucker died we noticed that they painted ALL of it. Obviously a guilty conscience at work. But ya think one of dem fdot fellers said to himself HMMM WHY are all these cars running up the wall? Why heck no. Paint will take care of that ..
So, a year later I just went to a concert over there and earlier picking up tix I noticed that the wall was right back to normal tire marks all over it ... two days later this guy is dead.
SOMETHING IS WRONG.
If no one at FDOT can be counted on to note a dangerous situation they need new people.
But that will NEVER happen because only the right last names go to fdot and then they can stalk you down the interstate when you talk about how they launder money with jeb and cointel and all that.
So, all in all there's only a FEW of us that care whether this guy is dead or not. (so sorry to the family I had to check with a few people to make sure it wasn't MY loved one so I really am sorry for you)
Unfortunately none of us went to FSU pay your fees get your bees so we could grow up and engineer dangerous ramps for unfortunate souls to DIE ON ...
so say what you will. My comments were not made lightly.
This family sues. Next family keeps their loved one.
GET IT????
It's all those idiots understand.
They sometims LIKE being sued. Read the police and firemen pension fund meetings. We pay them to sue each other.
You don't have to take my word for it.. go read it. over a hundered thousand a YEAR to their attorney so they can argue among themselves or weed out people who won't stalk for them or their other dirty deeds.
I have a feeling we're probably paying for bill nesmith's attorney so he can sue jim coats.
Do yall really REALLY not mind that?
If so you are profiting from it or blind.
Family, please contact me. So sorry for your loss.

[1sherm]

are u serious i was actually interested in your story until u felt the need to write a book on it

[nickatdabeach]

Sometimes it takes a book for you morons to get it.. at least you can read & comprehend -- ahead of 85% of most Florida residents

[ou812]

We can contract the Skyway,toll bridges, and over passes (64 million, thanks Jeb) in this county, which they are....but we blame FDOT. We should wait and see what the investigation brings. There could have been debris on the road.....we don't know. We need to understand and deal with the facts.

[shuturyap]

It's always someone else's fault. FDOT contact me. I have pictures of me safely driving this section of roadway everyday for 9 years.

[Dave]

Everyone just settle down.... Now, to get to the bottom of this, just ask yourself: "What would Jesus Do?".

[bopeep]

The answers are simple The driver was going too fast lost control and smashed into the wall. Flipped the light car over and died. How many times do we hear it's not the drivers fault. Suck it up and remember we didn't make him think he drives like Brother nick

[GulfSider]

I'm always amazed at how many 1 car accidents we have around here. Perhaps we are driving too fast and too busy playing with our phones? There is no reason for a one car accident, period!

[LittleBro]

It does a lawyer's heart good to see so many of you talking like "bopeep" and "shuturyap." But what's REALLY good is that the people in charge of that exit think that way too. They say the same kind of nonsense "GulfSider" says - no excuse for a one car accident. Design is not important - if you hit it, it's your fault.

Would you like to see why it feels good? Go sit in court sometime and see how many people like you get to testify that you drive safely. That you drive it every day and haven't had an accident. Then watch what happens when a traffic engineer from Illinois or Kansas City testifies it's unsafe and why. And then watch closely as the evidence of previous crashes is presented. A jury of your peers will award many millions of dollars.

It doesn't matter that tens of thousands of people didn't hit the wall. What matters is that one did and it wouldn't have happened if the exit was properly designed. Remember the excuse for spending lots and lots of money on something? "If it saves ONE life, it's worth it."

A couple of lawyers are going to get rich(er) now. Oh - and the family will be compensated for their loss, too. It's a shame for the families there are so many people who say things like "suck it up. But lawyers LOVE you. Really - they LOVE you.

[colorchanger]

That is alot of accidents in one place.
Suppose an officer was on a high speed chase, is it ok if they crash too?
The DOT needs to fix the layout of the road.

[Tina]

I am sorry for the family in this tragic loss.

A comment to all of you "good drivers" though... my biggest peeve is people using cell phones to talk and text when driving. Every day I see people going 15 mph slower than traffic flow because of their phones or swerving into other lanes like a drunk because they are on the phone and they are COMPLETELY clueless to the hazards they are causing. Everyone THINKS they are a good driver, but it is almost impossible to be one if you use a cell while driving. It should be illegal.

[LittleBro]

Another FDOT created lawyer bonanza is the new layout of the roads at the east end of the Courtney Campbell Causeway. For instance, see what happens when people leave the airport for Clearwater and suddenly realize they are in the wrong lane. That whole area is an obvious disaster waiting to happen. Design on the cheap - like exiting left from an interstate or like the west end of the causeway - and single car crashes are inevitable.

[tgoody]

So with all the accidents on the Howard Franklin are you speeders saying it should be rebuilt to. Poeple slow down when exiting hyway.

[Terry]

your dealing with a young inexperienced driver two days before his birthday that apparently has had his share of problems. There are several area's on are highways that have spirals (reducing radius) that have to be engineered into them to fit there alignments. lets see, Pinellas Bayway south bound leaving 275, 275 southbound just after the malfunction junction where the highway turns southwest and this one. I think people just need to learn to drive. Insurance is higher in metro areas because of the accident statistics.

[Darpy]

Well, Look at the driver's rap sheet:
VOP BURGLARY
PROV FALSE NAME OR ID TO LEO
LOITERING AND PROWLING
AGGRAVATED BATTERY

Certainly not the model citizen... so probably not the model driver. There's nothing wrong with that exit.

[727guy]

If nothing else, the number of strike marks against the wall would seem to indicate that its a problem area.

Maybe just painting the wall somet other color other than just plain white (which can blend into the horizon beyond it) might alleviate some of the crashes. Stripes, or something that stands out against the skyline might help.

Slowing down and paying attention could help too, but you can't expect miracles. I'm surprised someone wasn't behind this guy videotaping it, like the crash on 301 recently.

[Justme]

Edward Graziano is wishing his wife would drive this ramp often. How many pizza's would it be worth to you Ed, you idiot??

[Sandra]

Windowsugar: I don't know you, but just judging from your posts, you are EXACTLY what's wrong with Americans today! I just heard on the news that some of the passengers whos lives were saved on the Hudson River, are actually suing the pilot!!! That is what you are saying in a nutshell. I really hope this family doesn't take your posts seriously, it is called PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY! I am going to go out on a limb and guess that you are on some form of public financial assistance. Am I right?

Please let this deceased young man have his dignity and STOP trying to make a circus out of it!!

[Marcie]

Ok to all the Insensitive people this was my sister-in-laws brother. What ever the cause of the crash there was a life that was lost and three children without thier father. Now think about that before you slander people on how they drive regardless a life has been taken. Lets try to think of the people who have lost someone in their lives....

[Bobcat]

The road is only dangerous when going to fast if you area local resident you would be awre of it being elevated and tourists and say truckers that rarely drive in the area are at risk so slow down and safe speeds will get you there

[JR]

Every road out there is made to be safe enough for a car to drive on it. If the driver is 'driving' his car to fast around a tight corner, there is a chance that he or she won't make it. Common frickin' sense. Stop blaming the roads. I've been around the world and found that only stupid people are breeding.

[teezy]

If there was no gravity, then this guy could have lived. Sue the creator for thinking up gravity!! Pray for the end of gravity so this doesn't happen again.

[joederus66]

wow...this is quite a debate here. first our condolences out to the drivers family, regardless of cause. I live downtown, about 3-4 blocks from where 375 exits onto 5th st. n. so i also take this same exit on the regular. maybe we need to try a couple cheaper options, before lawsuits start flying. their is a set of(poorly placed) flashing lights letting you know to slow down to 30mph when coming into downtown. At night...if those weren't there and you maybe arent paying full attention, you very easily keep going highway speeds right into a lighted intersection. so hey, since you have slow down from highway speeds to go around that huge ramp...why not put another set of lights at beginning of 375 as well. OR atleast some brighter street lights, so drivers unfamiliar with the area (truckers) can see the dead mans curve waiting in front of them. Heard reports that the poor trucker from '07 didnt even hit the breaks before slamming into the wall (possibly from fatigue)...but still. Even bad drivers dont want to die, so maybe if they could SEE the hazard, might help avoid it. and as far as them painting the wall during re-construction, my guess is they did it to make it look better(probly standard), being they were already out there, probly with paint in hand. Not some huge cover-up conspiracy to kill more drivers!! So giving the current economy, some cheaper options like (LIGHTS $ WARNING signs) may be a more reasonable idea, before we start getting into a full blown re-build// public works/TRAFFIC nightmare!!

OH and "shuturtrap"" how exactly do you have pictures of you driving that road everyday for 9 years???? now THAT does NOT sound safe to me!! how is it possible? are you followed by paparazzi? do you have major self envy? I hope the FDOT calls you out and demands ALL of your 9 years of "pictures" hahahaha...oh man, good stuff.

[molly]

St. Pete Times should be doing an investigation/ story on this. With the media breathing on them, maybe this will get fixed. Look at all the comments...obviously people are passionate about this...

[Smplyred]

I live in the area and have traveled this route many times. You MUST break your speed rather quickly coming around that curve. Most curves you may be able to get away with going a bit faster than posted but THIS particular layout is very dangerous at any high rate of speed. If you haven't slowed down enough as you hit the curve is it very easy to lose control of your car. I've done it myself because I wasn't paying attention as I was thinking of something and hadn't realized I'd come up into the curve at the previous posted speed. Needless to say...Always careful on any curve now; watching for any decrease in speed.
It is unfortunate but some areas of the roadways are like this, more dangerous than others. My heart goes out to the family.

[GetaEffinLife]

i love how people go and look them up in the who's in jail..its funny that thats what people go by!! LMAO SILLY FOOLS

[Amanda]

I live in the area, and I'm a careful driver who obeys the speed limit. However, that exit has always made me nervous, especially when I was new to St. Pete. It's hard to see after dark and like a previous poster said, you have to slow down a LOT and very quickly. Quick deceleration, poor visibility and a sharp curve are not a good combination, especially when coupled with a 50 foot drop on either side of the road.
Do I think there should be a lawsuit over the design? No. But I think it should definitely studied and considered in how not to build exit ramps in the future.

[Always playing Devils Advocate]

It is a tragic thing that happend but the driver should have been doing what they were suppose to and this wouldn't have happened. I agree with Darpy, check out the sheet on this guy 12 different charges that is just in criminal court and then he has these listed in traffic court.

05/03/08 - DRIVE/WHILE/LICENSE/SUSPENDED
05/03/08-
IMPROPER TURN/U TURN
12/03/02 - IMPROPER PEDESTRIAN ACTION

God don't like ugly... Karma is a B and it comes when you least think of it..

[joederus66]

so "devilsadvocate" ....3 somewhat minor driving infractions and a few arrests is punishable by death now? jeez, that seems a lil' harsh to me? I didn't know a persons public records was which one's LIFE was judged by now. if that were true we'd have a pile of corpses that probly even reached your gated suburban community. AND it figures you'd mention "god" haha bet you go to church also? maybe you should practice what you and your people preach!!

thats true karma is a B! which from the sounds of it...maybe you've got yours coming when YOU least think of it.

Lets see YOUR driving/criminal record! OR some of your religous nutty buddy's records! When you get to those pearly gates and "god" has a copy of your records...hahah.

get a life...instead of demeaning those who have lost theirs!!

[mara_m]

i just have to say to all you people that this is my brother-in-law. he was a wonderful man and a loving father. yes he had his problems in the past just as we all make mistakes yes he made his, and just as God sees fit we all pay for our mistakes as he did in life. he worked so hard to take care of his resposibilities as a husband and a father of three young childeren (who now have to live life without him). he ALWAYS tried to do right by people and what God saw as right this horrific world we live in. so for all you people who want to sit here and put blame on him and say this crap that well maybe he got what was coming to him i have to tell you; you are NOT God, you have NO place to judge ANYONE for you yourselfs WILL be judged by the eyes of God. for all of you sending your regards may the Lord bless you and from the whole family we say thank you.

[shuturyap]

Yea Joe- obviously you are an idiot. Period.

[Grannyinfla]

There may or may not be something wrong with that exit but trashing a dead individual or excusing an individuals deadly mistake - whichever the case may be - is not the answer. If you have a problem with the way things are, do something. Vote people out, vote better people in, get involved, attend city coucil meetings. Stop whining like little girls. THAT IS WHAT IS WRONG WITH OUR COUNTRY. PEOPLE WHINE ABOUT THINGS THEY KNOW NOTHING ABOUT INSTEAD OF EDUCATING THEMSELVES AND MAKING RESPONSIBLE DECISIONS. NO ONE KNOWS ABOUT ACCOUNTABILITY ANYMORE. WE ARE ALL RESPONSIBLE FOR OURSELVES. WILL A LAW SUIT CHANGE THE FACT THAT A YOUNG MAN DIED? WHETHER THE ROAD LAY OUT IS FAULTY OR HE WAS SPEEDING? HAS IT OCCURRED TO ANY OF YOU THAT HIS FAMILY MAY BE READING THESE COMMENTS WITH THEIR HEARTS BREAKING? UGH

[observer2184]

folks, PLEASE slow down, and focus on your driving!

[LILY421]

Criticism is the easiest thing to do in the world. I'm amazed at the comment where somebody "darpy" actually went though his "rap" sheet and say he was not a model citizen. What the hell does that have to do with this accident? This was a good friend of mine's little brother. Accidents happen. To talk about the roads and THAT road ok, thats what the comments are for but his family is grieving for god sakes. Don't talk about someone you dont know who isnt here anymore and attack them. Thats unjust....have a HEART

[luisllana]

darpy,

thanks for you highly intelegent comment on what you know about my brother! more people should be sent to war too! that would make about as much sense as your comment on someone you do NOT know!!!!! for all those who support us thank you from the bottom of my heart, our family is not running to the first lawyer we see and seeking no compensation at this time but would like people to be aware of dangers on the road ways that effect not only us but all the other familes who has lost someone overnight. My brother was yes indeed a good man, a father of 3 children and uncle a brother a son and a human being. Just like you DARPY, if it had been your brother you (and all you others)would not say such insensitive garbage..get a life!!!!let me tell you about him, he was yes in trouble at a point in his life and was making things right with everyone, he was to be married in september and was working hard at making himself a better person. He drove fine and was never mister fast "idot" as many of you have put here so loosly as if speaking of a rock or a peice of dirt! there are humans yes that are bad and yes my brother and I have both made mistakes in our life, I have become a model citizen now and made many mistakes! he made some too, for you to dip into someone elses personal life is pathetic at best. you went and looked up another persons history and posted up here for all to see!!!! i dont judge you, you probably had nothing better to do correct? or is it that some people in this world have no compasion for the dead? you tell me DARPY...we are only here for a blink of an eye then we are gone, we have only memories and those fade for a reason. we love and we lose. we live and we die this is the natural order of things. DARPY this could of been you or someone close to you, and i will say this..I hope no stranger who knows nothing of a lost loved one does the same to you. I do not believe that it is proper and or moral for you or any of you to post personal things from a stranger you have no idea of what they did in thier life.please, this is what is happening to this world one second at a time we have become self-centered and self absorbed to glorify our own meaning of freedom no matter who it hurts in the process..

Luis Llana a brother..

[b-bob]

you know thats real screwed up how people want to talk trash i would love to see anyone talk that crap if they were in the drivers OR even in the families shoes you should be ashemed of yourself and hope carma doesnt bite you right in the butt

[b-bob]

AND my condolences to the whole family cheryl and i are with ya