A passenger in the car was seriously injured.

PINELLAS PARK – The driver of a four-door vehicle was killed early Tuesday (July 12) when the car hit a dump truck, according to Pinellas Park police.

Taylor Leigh Venello, 21, of Clearwater, was killed on impact, police said. Jade Kaily Nelson, 19, of Largo, who was in the right front seat was taken to Bayfront Health as a trauma alert. Nelson was in critical condition Tuesday evening with an uncertain prognosis. The driver of the dump truck, Robert Perez, 48, of Valrico, was not injured.

The crash happened about 1:52 a.m. on U.S. 19 N just north of Mainlands Boulevard. Police say the area is an active construction zone with numerous heavy vehicles on site. Witnesses told police that Mr. Venello was driving his 2007 Hyundai “well in excess” of the posted speed limit. The vehicle failed to slow for a dump truck that was slowing ahead in the same lane of travel. The Hyundai crashed into the back of the dump truck causing the car to come to an abrupt stop. The dump truck, owned by Jason Hauling, was carrying a load in excess of 21 tons, police said.

No charges are expected, police said.

For information about the Pinellas Park police, go to pinellas-park.com.

Photo courtesy of the Pinellas Park police.

Pinellas Park Police | Traffic Crash | Taylor Leigh Venello | Driver Dies | U.S. 19 | Mainlands | TB Reporter

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