Jasper teen dies in Alachua County vehicle crash

Published 8:13 am Thursday, January 19, 2012

A Jasper teen died from injuries she sustained in a vehicle crash in Alachua County Wednesday afternoon, the Florida Highway Patrol reported Wednesday night.

Chelsea Morgan, 19, Jasper, died at the scene of a single vehicle crash on I-75 around 3:30 p.m. after she lost control of her 2002 Jeep Liberty following a tire blowout, according to FHP.

Morgan was traveling northbound in the center lane of I-75 near mile marker 388 in Alachua County when the right rear tire blew out. Morgan was unable to maintain control of the vehicle and it veered off the wet roadway and onto the east grassy shoulder while rotating clockwise. The Jeep proceeded through a ditch and then the front of the vehicle struck a tree line. The driver’s side door then struck another tree as it traveled through the tree line and came to final rest facing west on the grassy shoulder, reports state.

Morgan, who was not wearing a seatbelt, sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced deceased at the scene by Alachua County Fire/Rescue, according to FHP.

A right front passenger in the Jeep, Dyamond Asbury, 18, Miami, sustained serious injuries and was transported to Shands UF.

Asbury was wearing a seatbelt, FHP reported.