Emily Brown
A man in Florida died in a head-on-collision just moments after he stole the car of a good Samaritan who pulled over to help him.
Florida Highway Patrol shared news of the events in a statement this week after the 29-year-old man initially crashed his car at around 8:30pm local time on 23 January.
The crash took place on State Road 50 in Brooksville, about 70 miles west of Orlando, when the man lost control of his car and collided with a traffic median barrier.
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Shortly after the accident, a 35-year-old woman from Webster was driving in the area and spotted the car accident.
She pulled over to assist the driver, but the man, who was from Dade City, ended up stealing her Chevy HHR and left her stranded in the dark.
The man fled west on State Road 50 in the woman's car, but before long he lost control once again and crossed the median into eastbound lanes.
According to officials, the driver then 'collided head-on' with an oncoming tractor-trailer.
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The suspect was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the collision and ultimately suffered fatal injuries.
The driver of the tractor-trailer, a 45-year-old man from Plant City, sustained minor injuries in the incident.
Authorities have not released the identity of the suspect who died in the collision.
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When it comes to witnessing a car accident, insurance company Geico advises drivers consider their own safety first.
Witnesses who stop at the site of a crash are advised to pull over at least 100 feet from the scene to ensure you are not in danger of broken glass, leaked fuel, or flames.
Even if the wreck does not appear to be severe, the company advises witnesses to call 911.
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"Never assume that someone else already called 911," the site says. "Let the 911 operator know you witnessed a car accident, the location, number of people involved, and any other pertinent details."
If those involved in the accident look to be in need of help, Geico recommends checking on the condition of the crash victims and making sure they are okay once witnesses have determined it's safe to approach.
If the accident is minor, it's recommended that witnesses make sure the driver puts the car in 'park' and turns off the ignition to eliminate the risk of fire that may come from an oil, fuel or coolant leak.
UNILAD has contacted Florida Highway Patrol for further comment.