Third victim identified in deadly Sarasota County crash

Published: Updated:
Mike Danielewski / WINK

NORTH PORT, Fla. Three people died in a crash Sunday morning on Interstate 75 southbound at mile marker 177, the Florida Highway Patrol said.

Eric Shawback, 51, of Haines City, was killed, according to the FHP. Fort Myers residents Nate Perkins, 23, and Johneisha Gadson, 22, also perished in Sunday’s crash.

Sharnice Brown, 23, of Fort Myers, suffered serious injuries and was taken to Sarasota Memorial Hospital, according to State troopers.

Brown, Gadson and Perkins were not wearing seat belts at the time of the crash, State troopers said. It’s unclear if alcohol was involved for the trio.

Brown and Gadson were Perkins’ passengers when he was driving his 2016 Nissan Murano, and hit a semi-trailer truck driven by Shawback at around 5:15 a.m., State troopers said.

Following the initial crash, several secondary crashes resulted in property damage, according to the FHP. The crash shut down the southbound lanes of the interstate for several hours.

Port Charlotte residents Hunter Harris, 21, Austin Diedrick, 21, and Anthony Dejesus, age unknown, were inside the 2006 Toyota Avalon and sustained minor injuries in the crash, according to officials.

The crash remains under investigation, officials said.

No further information was immediately available.

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