The accident closed parts of Lithia Pinecrest road for hours while vehicles were removed.

HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY – A Lithia man died Tuesday (June 28) when the truck he was driving was hit by a rail car, according to the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office.

Michael Warren Liverett, 45, of Lithia, died at the scene. There were no other injuries.

The accident happened about 11:55 a.m. on Lithia Pinecrest Road when a 2007 Chevy Impala driven by Shereen E. Aziz, 45, of Ruskin, pulled out from a private drive to turn east onto the road. Deputies said Aziz failed to see a Freightliner tractor-trailer pulling a trailer loaded with a railroad rail car traveling east on Lithia Pinecrest at about 45 mph.

The tractor-trailer, which was  driven by Shane W. Howard, 40, of Jacksonville, tried to avoid hitting the Impala by veering left. When Howard pulled back into his own lane, the rail car separated from the tractor-trailer, deputies said. The rail car hit the 2001 Dodge 2500 truck, which Mr. Liverett was driving. It was pulling an enclosed trailer. Mr. Liverett was trapped inside the vehicle, and died at the scene, deputies said.

Alcohol/drugs did not contribute to this crash, deputies said. The Florida Department of Transportation is helping with inspection of the tractor-trailer. Charges are pending and the investigation continues.

For information about the Hillsborough sheriff, go to hcso.tampa.fl.us.

Hillsborough Sheriff | Lithia Pinecrest Road | Michael Warren Liverett | Traffic Crash | TB Reporter

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