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Highlands Today

BREAKING NEWS: Teenager Dies In Venus Crash

FHP: 15TH TRAFFIC FATALITY IN HIGHLANDS

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By Joe  Seelig | Highlands Today

Published: September 17, 2007

VENUS — A 16-year-old Venus boy was pronounced dead early Monday at the scene of a single car crash on U.S. 27 about 12 miles south of Lake Placid.

The body of Juan D. Gonzalez was transported from the crash site located about .2 miles south of Harrell Road and U.S. 27, to the District 10 Medical Examiners office in Winter Haven.

A 15-year old passenger, Rosio Calderon, also of Venus, was taken to Florida Hospital in Lake Placid, where he was treated for minor injuries.

According to the report, at about 12:15 a.m. Monday, Gonzalez, 16, was driving a 1993 Toyota southbound on U.S. 27 in the right-hand lane.

A witness following the Toyota told FHP crash investigator Cpl. Ed Finneran that for some reason the Toyota veered onto the west grass shoulder, rotated clockwise and then flipped.

Both Gonzalez and Calderon, who were not wearing their seat belts, were ejected from the Toyota while it was overturning.

The Toyota came to a rest on its roof and sustained $5,000 damage.

According to Florida Highway Patrol Lt. James Potter, the crash was the 15th fatal traffic accident investigated by the patrol in Highlands County, and the 15th death thus far this year, compared to 12 traffic fatalities for the same period in 2006.

In 2006 there were a total of 21 fatal traffic crashes with 23 deaths, reported in Highlands County, he said.

The report stated that it was unknown if alcohol was a factor in the crash.

"The investigation is at its infancy right now," Potter said. "And we're not making any assumptions until the investigation is complete."

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