PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. – Three people from Leesburg died after their car fell off a bridge and plunged into the water, authorities said.
The incident happened at 9:40 p.m. Friday on the northbound lanes of I-275 near milepost 33 in Pinellas County.
Troopers said a Honda Civic driven by Joshua Burbank, 25, and a GMG Sierra with the three Leesburg residents inside were traveling east on the interstate. The Civic was in the inside center travel lane and the Sierra was in the inside travel lane.
Burbank failed to maintain control of the Civic, causing the car to enter the inside travel lane, troopers said. This caused the front left portion of the Civic to collide with the rear right of the Sierra, causing the Sierra to rotate in a clockwise spin while overturning several times.
Troopers said the Sierra went over the southern concrete barrier wall, overturning into the water below. The Civic came to a controlled stop on the southern shoulder of the interstate.
All three people inside of the Sierra were killed, the Florida Highway Patrol said. The driver of the Sierra Robert Getter, 76, and passenger Karen Getter, 73, both died at scene. Passenger, the couples son, Samuel Getter, 52, died at Tampa General. All three were from Leesburg.
Burbank was arrested at the scene on three counts of DUI manslaughter, one count of DUI property damage and careless driving, the FHP's report said.