ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — A passenger in a taxi was killed and several others were hurt in a chain-reaction crash Sunday afternoon in which alcohol played a factor, police say.
- Passenger in taxi killed in 6-vehicle crash in St. Petersburg
- Taxi struck SUV, which caused chain-reaction crash, cops say
- Investigators: Taxi driver, passenger weren't wearing seat belts
The crash happened at 38th Avenue N and 49th Street N and closed parts of the intersection for hours.
According to St. Petersburg Police, a 2009 Crown Victoria operating as an Express Taxi, driven by David Yancey, 47, was heading south on 49th Street N with passenger Heather Scozzaro, 40, when the taxi rear-ended a 2018 Chevrolet Tahoe that was stopped at 38th Avenue N.
The Tahoe was pushed into and hit two vehicles: a 2017 Ford Escape and 2017 Chevrolet SS. The Escape then struck a 2014 Kia Optima, and the Optima was pushed into a 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe, police said.
Three people in various vehicles other than the taxi were taken to hospitals for nonlife-threatening injuries.
Yancey and Scozzaro, the occupants of the taxi, were not wearing seat belts, according to police investigators. They incurred serious injuries and were taken to Bayfront Health St. Petersburg, where Scozzaro died.
Police said "alcohol played a role in the crash" but didn't provide more specifics.
The investigation is ongoing, and charges are pending, they said.