A mother and her two children were involved in a single-car crash Sunday, Sept. 27, on Wilder Road.
Veronica Garcia, 25, lost control of her vehicle and struck a TECO utility pole after driving into a ditch. She died on impact, according to the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office. Her two children, Geovanni Ibarra, 5, and Jonathan Ibarra, 1, were transported to Tampa General Hospital with minor injuries.
The family was traveling down Wilder Road at about 7 a.m. in a 2005 Buick Terrazzo minivan. For unknown reasons, Garcia drifted off the right shoulder about one half mile from Knights Griffin Road. When she tried to correct, she crossed into the oncoming lane. She then overcorrected to the right and lost control of her van. The vehicle spun into a ditch and hit the power pole. Power lines fell from the insulators and were leaning against the utility pole.
Ralph Patterson, of 4605 Wilder Road, heard the crash from his house. He ran to the crash, where he could hear two children screaming. He flagged down Kirk Butts, of 5014 Turkey Ridge Road.
Even though it was possible the pole and vehicle were electrically charged from the power lines, both men removed Geovanni Ibarra from the vehicle.
Jonathan Ibarra was thrown from the vehicle and landed in the ditch. Butts removed him from the mud.
There were no seat belts or child restraints in use and alcohol is not suspected. The investigation continues.
