PASCO COUNTY, Fla. -- A motorist was killed Monday morning after his van struck a garbage truck head-on and caught fire, troopers said.
- FHP: Driver killed after van collides head-on with garbage truck
- Troopers: Driver swerved into oncoming lane, struck truck
- 2 people in garbage truck taken to Lakeland Regional hospital
The two men in the garbage truck were hospitalized in serious condition, the Florida Highway Patrol said.
The crash happened just before 11 a.m. on Prospect Road, east of Handcart Road.
FHP investigators say a 2002 Ford van was traveling southbound on Prospect Road when it swerved into the northbound lane at a curve.
That's when it hit the northbound garbage truck head-on.
After impact, both vehicles struck a guardrail and caught fire.
The identity of the driver of the van, who was pronounced dead at the scene, has not been released.
Garbage truck driver Christopher J. Santos, 36, of Brooksville and passenger Dustin W. Sanders, 28, of New Port Richey were both taken to Lakeland Regional Medical Center.
Troopers said no one was wearing a seat belt. The crash is under investigation.