Pasco County, FL — May 18, 2025, One person was killed following a car accident that occurred at around 7:30 P.M. on Interstate 75.

According to reports, a car accident occurred on Interstate 75 northbound near Pasco Road after the vehicle was reportedly driving on the shoulder while weaving in and out of traffic. The vehicle lost control and hit a light pole causing the vehicle to catch fire.

Emergency crews arrived and found the driver without signs of life and declared them deceased. Officials have not released the identity of the driver, and so far there has been no mention of any other vehicles or persons being involved in the accident.

Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman

Those affected by a crash like this almost always find themselves looking for answers. In the aftermath, certain assumptions can take hold—especially when there's a single vehicle involved and the behavior seems erratic. But even when things seem straightforward, the truth is often more complex. That’s why there are three essential questions we should always ask to better understand what really happened.

First, did the authorities thoroughly investigate the crash? When a vehicle is seen weaving through traffic and driving on the shoulder, it's easy to conclude the driver was reckless or impaired. But that conclusion shouldn't be the end of the story. Investigators should examine whether the driver may have been trying to avoid something—like another vehicle or debris—or if a medical emergency played a role. Was there any dashcam or traffic camera footage that captured the moments before the crash? Were there tire marks that could tell us more about how the driver lost control? These are the kinds of details that help determine whether something more than driver behavior was at play.

Second, has anyone looked into the possibility that a vehicle defect caused the crash? Loss of control in the middle of an evasive maneuver can sometimes point to a mechanical failure. Did the steering system fail? Did the brakes not respond? And what about the post-crash fire? Not every crash results in a fire, and when one does, it raises concerns about the safety of the vehicle’s design—especially the fuel system and battery compartment. The presence of fire adds urgency to securing and inspecting the wreckage before critical evidence is lost.

Third, has all the electronic data relating to the crash been collected? Most newer vehicles are equipped with event data recorders that track how the vehicle was behaving just before a crash. That data could confirm whether the driver was speeding, braking, or swerving—and it can even tell us if a malfunction was detected. But once a vehicle catches fire, retrieving that information becomes much harder. That’s why time is of the essence in preserving this kind of evidence.

When we ask these questions, we’re not just trying to fill in a report. We’re trying to make sense of a situation that has left someone gone and others searching for understanding. The full story often lies beneath the surface, and it takes a careful, persistent effort to bring it to light.

Key Takeaways:

• Early assumptions about reckless driving shouldn’t replace a full investigation.
• Vehicle fires after impact may indicate design or component defects worth examining.
• Electronic crash data can reveal critical pre-crash details—if it’s recovered in time.