Traffic was tied up for hours Friday (Feb. 12) after the early morning crash.

TAMPA – The drivers of two vehicles died Friday (Feb. 12) in a head-on traffic crash caused when one was driving the wrong way, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

Dead at the scene were Eugene M. Fischer, 65, of San Antonio, and Larry Lorenza Thompson, 47, of Tampa.

FHP officials said the crash happened about 5:40 a.m. Friday when Mr. Thompson was driving his 2006 Acura TL the wrong way on the southbound downtown Tampa access ramp (West Palm Avenue Bridge B) north of the Jefferson Street/Ashley Drive split. His Acura collided nearly head-on with the 2006 GMC Envoy being driving south by Mr. Fischer. Neither driver was wearing a seat belt and both died at the scene of the crash, which closed the road until about 10:05 a.m.

FHP officials say many questions are unanswered about the crash. Among those are whether drugs or alcohol was involved (tests are pending) and when Mr. Thompson began to drive in the wrong direction. No video of the crash itself is available.

For information about the FHP, go to flhsmv.gov.

Photographs of the crash scene are courtesy of the Florida Highway Patrol.

Tampa | Wrong Way Crash | Eugene Fischer | Larry Lorenza Thompson | TB Reporter

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