Violent crash in Clearwater sends one to the hospital

CLEARWATER (FOX 13) - A serious crash closed a Clearwater intersection early Tuesday morning.

Clearwater police and first responders learned of the single-vehicle crash before 3 a.m. at Court Street and Hillcrest Avenue. Police said 48-year-old William Fralin was driving westbound on Court Street in a 2002 Toyota Camry when it left the roadway, and hit multiple street signs and then slammed into a large pole holding traffic signals. The car flipped multiple times, and was split in half.

Debris from the car and the traffic signals were spread over a large area, and onto the campus of St. Cecelia Catholic School. The total amount of damage to the city property is about $75,000. Investigators said speeding and alcohol may be factors in the crash.

Fralin  was transported to Bayfront Health St. Petersburg with life-threatening injuries, according to the Clearwater Police Department. All lanes of Court Street reopened before 6:30 a.m., but there is some blockage on Hillcrest Avenue to repair the traffic lights. 

Police said there is no indication of street racing, and there were no passengers inside the vehicle.