TAMPA, FL : MLK crash kills five, including two Tampa children ages 9 and 10 on Wednesday, 26th October 2016

Five people are dead, including two children ages 9 and 10, after a fiery multi-car crash Wednesday night on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

Just before 10 p.m. a Volkswagen was traveling west on MLK approaching Coconut Palm Drive. Three other cars were driving east on MLK toward Coconut Palm Drive.

The driver of the Volkswagen, 22-year-old Pablo Cortes III, lost control “for unknown reasons,” troopers said. FHP said Cortes was speeding. The Volkswagen crossed over the median and hit a Toyota Sienna minivan nearly head on, according to FHP.

The Sienna caught fire. Inside were the two children: John Bernal, 9, and Isabell Bernal, 10. The driver of the car, Marianela Murillo, 39, also died. Two others in the Sienna, 15-year-old Luisa Louisa and 18-year-old Lina Bernal, are at Tampa General Hospital with critical injuries. The driver and passengers lived in the same apartment in Tampa on Sabalridge Grove.

After hitting the Sienna, the Volkswagen rotated and collided with a Toyota Scion, leaving its driver, 54-year-old Carla Marie Wyman of Seffner, with serious injuries.

Cortes, of Brandon, and his Volkswagen passenger Jolie Bartolome, 19 of Lithia, died at the scene, troopers said.

Debris from that crash hit a BMW, but those inside that car were not injured.

Although early reports at the scene indicated the crash may have been caused by street racing, Sgt. Steve Gaskins said troopers don’t have any evidence to support that.

MLK was closed until 4:10 a.m. as crews cleaned up the wreckage and troopers investigated the crash.

Source :
MLK crash kills five, including two Tampa children ages 9 and 10