New Tampa Woman Killed In Wrong-Way Crash

By Matt Wiley

A New Tampa woman has died, following the latest wrong-way crash on one of Tampa’s interstates this year. 

According to the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP), the agency received reports about a wrong-way driver in a 2012 Nissan Altima around 4:30 a.m. on September 22.

FHP reports that the vehicle driven by Jessica Rey Mahn, 25, of the Oakwood Village community in New Tampa, was traveling north in the southbound lanes of I-75 (north of S.R. 52). Mahn’s Altima was driving in the inside lane and came into the path of a tractor trailer being driven by Slawomir Plonski, 42, of Port St. Lucie, FL.

Seeing Mahn’s vehicle driving toward him, Plonski told troopers that he attempted to move to the outside lane, but couldn’t get out of the way in time. Mahn’s Nissan collided with the left side of the trailer, before coming to rest on top of the concrete barrier in the median.

Mahn sustained serious injuries and was airlifted to Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point in Hudson, where she died of her injuries at 6:13 a.m. Although she was wearing her seatbelt, FHP reports that alcohol is expected to be a factor, but toxicology screening results could take as long as eight weeks.

The crash shut down southbound I-75 until 9:20 a.m.

Mahn worked as a bartender at Peabody’s Billiards & Games in Tampa Palms and was scheduled to work the morning of the crash.

Peabody’s issued an official statement via their Facebook page after it was determined that Mahn was the driver.

“Peabody’s is deeply saddened by the loss of our employee Jessica Mahn,” the statement says. “Our hearts go out to her family at this difficult time. They will be in our thoughts and prayers. Jessica was a great person and everyone that knew her, knew that she always had a smile on her face. It was a pleasure to work with such a wonderful person.

Tampa Fire Rescue (TFR) spokesperson Jason Penny also issued a statement, as Mahn’s boyfriend is a firefighter.

“(TFR) is saddened by the tragic event that affected one of our firefighters (Sept. 22),” Penny said. “Our hearts go out to the Mahn family as they deal with their grief. TFR is a family and we stand ready to provide support to Firefighter Harding during this painful time.”

This fatal accident marks the second wrong-way crash on Tampa’s interstates involving New Tampa and Wesley Chapel drivers in a little more than a month, as well as the fifth fatal wrong-way crash this year. The same weekend as Mahn’s crash, two other people were arrested around Tampa Bay for driving in the wrong direction on the interstates and expressways, as well.

In April, a Dade City teen was arrested driving drunk on I-75 near Wesley Chapel and another drunk wrong-way driver was arrested in July on I-275 in the same area. In August, a Wesley Chapel ambulance driver was injured in a crash caused by a wrong-way driver near downtown Tampa.

“(The crashes are) frustrating,” says FDOT spokesperson Kris Carson. “We’re trying to figure out how they keep occurring, whether it’s people going up the exit ramps or making U-turns on the interstate. When they’re making U-turns, additional signage at the exit ramps won’t help.”

Carson is referring to an FDOT “pilot program” that is being tested that involves flashing red and white LED lights that indicate that a driver is going the wrong way.

“These flashing lights will help to grab drivers’ attention,” Carson explains. “But, if someone is driving intoxicated, it’s hard to tell if the signs will be effective. There are numerous wrong-way indicators already.”

Carson says another idea being considered is lighted signage on the pavement that also would attempt to let drivers know that they’re going the wrong way.

No additional information was available at our press time.