Wrong-way crash on Florida highway leaves three people dead on Thanksgiving

Three people are dead after a wrong-way driver crashed on Interstate 75 in Hillsborough County on Thanksgiving, closing a portion of the highway overnight, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

Justin B. Lakin, 21, and Lashay D. Waiters, 24, both of Bradenton, were killed as a result of the crash. A Ruskin woman, Yvette R. Alexandre, 21, also was killed.

All three were taken to Tampa General Hospital where they died from injuries sustained in the crash, according to FHP.

Lakin, driving a 2012 Toyota Corolla, was driving north in the southbound center lane of I-75 just north of Gibsonton Drive shortly after 10 p.m. Thursday, according to FHP.

A 2009 Ford Focus driven by Waiters, with Alexandre inside, was traveling south in the center lane of the same stretch of road when they were struck head-on by the Corolla, traveling the wrong way, FHP reported.

It’s unknown where Lakin began driving in the wrong direction. A portion of I-75 was closed for several hours.

This story was originally published November 24, 2017 at 8:29 AM with the headline "Wrong-way crash on Florida highway leaves three people dead on Thanksgiving."