Sarasota County SUV collision with tree leads to teenage driver’s death, female passenger hospitalized

Sarasota, Fl.-A tragic single-vehicle crash occurred in Sarasota County early Tuesday morning resulting in the death of an 18-year-old female driver from Sarasota, while her 16-year-old female passenger, also from Sarasota, sustained serious injuries and was rushed to the hospital, according to the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office.

The incident happened at around 1:22 a.m, April 11th on Beneva Road, north of Webber Street at Beneva Terrace. Reports suggest that the SUV driven by the deceased driver hit a tree, while the injured passenger was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash, as per Florida Highway Patrol. The reason behind the accident is yet to be ascertained. The southbound lanes of Beneva Road were temporarily closed near the Palms Golf Club at Forest Lakes but have now been reopened.