LARGO, Fla. — A devastating two-car collision in Largo, Florida has left a community in mourning after three lives were lost, including two young children and an elderly woman. Miami Hurricanes linebacker Adarius Hayes, 20, was identified as the driver of one of the vehicles involved. Though he survived with non-life-threatening injuries, the incident has sent shockwaves through the sports world and beyond.
The crash occurred around 1:45 p.m. on Saturday at the intersection of Orangeview Drive and Ridge Road, a residential area in Hayes’ hometown near Tampa. According to the Largo Police Department, Hayes was driving a Dodge Durango southbound when it collided with a Kia Soul that was attempting a left turn at the intersection.
Police reports confirm that the impact of the crash was catastrophic. The Kia Soul, carrying four passengers, sustained the most damage. Tragically, three of its occupants did not survive. Two children — 10-year-old Jabari Elijah Solomon and 4-year-old Charlie Herbert Solomon Rivera — were pronounced dead at the scene. Their young lives were cut short in an instant.
Adding to the heartbreak, the driver of the Kia, 78-year-old Gail Price, succumbed to her injuries the following day. Authorities confirmed her passing on Sunday, stating that her next of kin had been notified. Price was reportedly trying to make a left turn when her vehicle was struck by Hayes’ Durango.
The only surviving passenger from the Kia, 58-year-old Herbert Rivera, remains hospitalized with serious injuries. His current condition has not been disclosed, but police noted that he is receiving critical medical attention.
In a statement, the Largo Police Department clarified that neither alcohol nor drugs are believed to have played a role in the crash. There were no signs of impairment in either driver, and investigators are continuing to review the circumstances that led to the fatal collision.
Adarius Hayes, a promising young talent for the Miami Hurricanes football team, is now recovering from his injuries. His role in the crash, though not suspected to involve any criminal behavior at this time, places him at the center of a tragic story that has left three families devastated and a community reeling.
The University of Miami has not yet released a public statement regarding Hayes or the crash. Supporters and fellow athletes have expressed condolences online, emphasizing the heartbreaking loss of life — especially the deaths of two children — as the true tragedy of the incident.
As the investigation continues, the focus remains on supporting the grieving families and understanding what led to this fatal turn of events on a quiet Saturday afternoon.
This horrific accident serves as a sobering reminder of how quickly lives can be changed or lost on the road, even in the absence of impairment or recklessness.
