RUSKIN — A car hit an SUV at an intersection in Ruskin on Wednesday night, fatally injuring a 3-year-old boy in the SUV and sending its six other occupants to the hospital, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

6 Months Ago

6 Months Ago

4 Months Ago

John Rutland, 38, of Ruskin, was headed south on 27th Street around 7:55 p.m. in a 2001 Toyota Camry, the highway patrol said, when he entered the path of a 2002 Chevrolet SUV headed east on SR 674 and driven by Marbella Valencia-Bustos, 20, of Wimauma.

The car collided with the driver side of the SUV, causing the SUV to rotate and flip.

It was not clear whether Rutland ran the stop sign at the intersection. SR 674, also known as College Drive, is a four-lane, divided highway while 27th Street is a two-lane road.

Rutland's actions were alcohol related and an investigation is underway, the highway patrol said.

One adult and five children were riding as passengers in the SUV. All of them and driver Valencia-Bustos were transported to Tampa General Hospital.

One of the children, 3-year-old Jacob Bustos, died at the hospital from his injuries in the crash, the highway patrol said.

A 10-year-old girl and an infant girl were listed in serious condition and a 1-year-old boy and 4-year-old boy received minor injuries. Valencia-Bustos also received minor injuries.

All the occupants of the SUV were wearing seatbelts or in child restraint devices, the highway patrol said.

Rutland and the two occupants of his car, a 9-year-old girl and a 5-year-old boy, were not injured, the highway patrol said. They were wearing seatbelts.

Our editors found this article on this site using Google and regenerated it for our readers.