Crime & Safety
Odessa Man Dies in Fiery Dale Mabry Crash
The man's Ford Explorer burst into flames after it struck another vehicle early this morning, Feb. 24.
A 20-year-old Odessa man is dead following an early morning crash today, Feb. 24, on Dale Mabry Highway at Bearss Avenue.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, the accident occurred around 5:30 a.m. when a Ford Explorer driven by Michael Gregory Backus of Odessa was traveling northbound on North Dale Mabry Highway and ran a red light. Backus’ Explorer crossed into the path of another vehicle that was trying to make a left-hand turn onto Bearss Avenue under a green traffic signal.
The front left portion of Backus’ Explorer struck the front right portion of the 2003 Ford Expedition driven by Edward Scanlon, 49, of Tampa, a highway patrol media release said.
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Backus’ vehicle rotated clockwise, overturned and then struck a pedestrian cross walk sign before bursting into flames, the release said. Scanlon’s vehicle spun counter-clockwise and ended up facing southwest in the center lane of Dale Mabry Highway.
Backus died at the scene, the release said.
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Scanlon and his passenger, Michael Patrick Scanlon, 43, of Indian Trail, N.C., suffered serious injuries.
The accident remains under investigation.
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