1 Dead, 1 Injured in Little Road Crash

An early afternoon crash on Little Road at Timber Oaks Avenue yesterday resulted in the death of one New Port Richey resident and has left a second in critical condition.

According to the Florida Highway Patrol, Steven Younge, 90, of New Port Richey died at Bayonet Point Hospital following the 1:55 p.m. Dec. 14 crash. His passenger, Beatrice Ford, 91, is listed in critical condition. Both New Port Richey residents were wearing seat belts.

The four-car crash occurred as a vehicle driven by Michelle Frances Maddox, 32, of Spring Hill was heading south on Little Road in the center lane. Younge’s 1999 Chrysler was traveling east on Timber Oaks Avenue in the left-hand turn lane. A Dodge Caravan driven by Byron Baker, 57, was heading north on Little Road and was in the left turn lane, stopped for a red light. The fourth vehicle in the crash, driven by Cheryl Kripps, 52, was traveling north on Little Road in the inside lane and was also stopped for the light.

FHP investigators say Maddox’s vehicle traveled through the red light as Younge was turning left from a green light. This, the release said, caused Younge’s vehicle to travel into the path of Maddox’s. The front of Maddox’s vehicle struck the left front side of Younge’s car. The impact caused Younge’s car to rotate into the southbound lanes and the shoulder of Little Road. At this point, Younge’s car struck a bus bench and retention wall.

Maddox’s car is said to have traveled over the raised median, into the northbound lanes of Little Road. It struck the front of Baker’s van and pushed it into the car driven by Kripps, the report said. Maddox’s car then struck the front left side of Kripps’ car, causing it to rotate and travel onto the east shoulder of Little Road.

Maddox’s car continued east across the northbound lanes of Little Road. It went onto the sidewalk on the road’s eastside, eventually going through a wooden fence at 9021 Turkey Shoot Road.

The accident remains under investigation.