3 killed in Charlotte County crash

Three people were killed Tuesday afternoon in a crash on Gasparilla Road, the Florida Highway Patrol.

Alban Bianco, 80, of Gotham, Maine, Raymond Lapointe, 82, of Lewiston, Mich., and Rebecca Hlavsa, 73, of Port Charlotte, were killed in the wreck around 4:45 p.m. while at the intersection of Gasparilla Road and Marathon Boulevard, according to the FHP.

Bianco, who was the driver of the Chevrolet Silverado, was stopped in the eastbound lane of Marathon Boulevard at a stop sign the intersection, State troopers said. Hugo Garrido-Cruz, 33, of Englewood, was driving his Dodge Ram in the northbound lane of Gasparilla Road approaching the intersection when Bianco drove into the intersection in front of the Dodge.

The Dodge then hit the right side of the Chevrolet, according to State troopers. Following the collision, the Chevrolet and Dodge stopped on the grassy shoulder.

Garrido-Cruz was not hurt in the crash, State troopers said. He was cited for no driver license, no vehicle insurance and not registering a vehicle.