A Plant City man passed away at the scene of a vehicle accident after hitting the rear of a dump truck yesterday.
At about 8:30 p.m., Charles D. Middleton, 30, of Dover was putting gasoline in a 1987 GMC 7000 dump truck that had broken down on the north side of Bruton Road facing west. The rear of the truck was in the travel lane.
John Carter Phillips, 53, was traveling westbound on Bruton Road at approximately 40 to 45 miles per hour in a 1996 Nissan. He failed to observed the stranded dump truck and struck the truck in the rear with the front of the Nissan.
Phillips was pronounced deceased at the scene. His passenger was transported to Tampa General Hospital via helicopter and is still in critical condition with severe trauma to the neck. Positive identification has not been made on the passenger.
The Department of Transportation Motor Carrier Compliance responded and conducted a commercial vehicle inspection.
Charges are pending to the owner of the dump truck.