Florida Department of Law Enforcement officials still are investigating a Feb. 5 fatal car accident.
Keith Davis, 52, of Plant City, died at Lakeland Regional Medical Center from injuries he sustained when his 2002 black four-door Toyota was hit by a 2004 Gold Lincoln Navigator. That vehicle was driven by 16-year-old Jennifer Carvajal, of Plant City, who ran a red light, according to Plant City Police Department reports.
Carvajal was traveling north on North Alexander Street, when she hit the passenger side of Davis’ car at about 6:30 a.m. Feb. 5. Davis was coming off the eastbound exit ramp of Interstate 4. His car was propelled into a concrete barrier divider wall for North Alexander Street, reports stated.
Carvajal’s car continued to travel into a pedestrian walk sign and a Plant City water main. From there, it traveled into some shrubs and a palm tree, knocking the palm tree down before coming to a final rest.
Carvajal was traveling at 55 mph, according to police reports. The posted speed is 45. She was transported to St. Joseph Hospital, in Tampa. Carvajal also was tested for drugs and alcohol. The blood tests have been sent to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.
“The length of the investigation depends on how long the FDLE takes,” said officer Tommy Morris, the traffic homicide investigator for the case. “It varies, depending on the case. But, if there’s a fatality, we usually try and expedite the process.”
Charges still are pending against Carvajal. Depending on the results of the tests, she could be facing DUI manslaughter.
Officers initially heard Carvajal had taken her aunt’s vehicle without permission. But, the vehicle belonged to her mother, Edith Rosales. Her uncle, Marcel Rosales, co-signed for the car.
Investigators aren’t sure where Carvajal was headed so early in the morning, or if she was supposed to be driving the car. She and her mother have given limited cooperation with investigators. During an interview, they would not release a statement regarding her destination that morning.
But, investigators knew where Davis was headed. He had just come from his paper route, delivering The Tampa Tribune. He usually took a nap in the early morning between routes and was headed home.
Contact Amber Jurgensen at ajurgensen@plantcityobserver.com.