Minivan Full Of Local Children Hit By Semi

A 16-year-old Wesley Chapel girl and five of her passengers are alive after the new driver drove her Dodge minivan in front of the path of a semi truck on S.R. 54 and Curley Rd., a Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) report states.

Jasmine Dixon was driving the 2005 van with four children, ages 5-12, who are all Tampa and Wesley Chapel residents. Jamira Dixon, 31, sat in the front passenger seat as Jasmine tried to make a left turn onto Curley Rd. from S.R. 54 on July 26, and was struck by a semi truck traveling westbound. According to the FHP report, the truck did not have enough time to stop before colliding with the minivan.

All of the passengers in the van were treated at St. Joseph’s Hospital with injuries ranging from minor to serious. The children ages 5 and 12 sustained the most serious injuries and were airlifted to the hospital. All of the passengers were wearing their seatbelts.