6 Sarasota teens left seriously injured after 16-year-old runs stop sign, troopers say

SARASOTA COUNTY (WFLA) — The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating after a crash left six Sarasota teens seriously hurt. The 16-year-old driver who caused the crash is in critical condition, troopers said.

A witness who stayed on the scene told troopers they saw the 16-year-old girl, who was driving a sedan, run a stop sign, and drive directly into the path of an 18-year-old SUV driver, causing a T-bone collision.

“The Florida Highway Patrol just wants to remind everyone, especially our young drivers, how important it is to be paying attention when you are behind the wheel, to not be distracted even if we have company that is in the car. Put those devices down, both hands on the wheel, and we want to make sure that we are certainly paying attention for all of those traffic control devices.,” State Trooper Kenn Watson said.

The four male passengers — all 15 and 16-year-olds — in the 16-year-old girl’s vehicle, were seriously injured. The SUV driver was also seriously injured, according to a report.

“It is very difficult when we have troopers getting on scene, and all of the victims involved are the ages of a lot of our children. This is the most difficult thing that the Florida Highway Patrol does, deputies do, police officers do, is getting on scene and seeing kids injured and that is why it is absolutely critical that all of our agencies work together and try to do everything that we can to educate our young drivers,” Trooper Watson said.

The crash remains under investigation.

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