2 Injured in Crash at Hess Gas Station

10 a.m. June 20: Updated with additional information and names of those involved in crash.

Two people were injured in a crash around 12:35 Wednesday afternoon at the Hess Express gas station just south of Nebraska Avenue.

The Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) says the Richard Alan Wagoner, 53, of Clearwater, was driving a 2000 Dodge Van and ran a stop sign in the parking lot behind the Hess station. 

The van hit a 2009 Prius driven by Diane Adele Merritt, 72, of Palm Harbor. The impact of the crash caused the Prius to spin around, according to Merritt's daughter, who was at the crash scene retrieving items from her mother's vehicle. The daughter said her mother had just picked up a prescription at the Walgreen's near the Hess station.

After crashing into the Prius, the van jumped a curb, hit a tree in a grassy area next to the Hess building, then hit the building, according to a FHP crash report. 

The van left tire tracks on the grass that led to the side of the building. Sand poured out from a hole in the building created by the van. The van's side door was torn off during the crash and was laying in the grass next to the building, along with tools and other items that had been inside the van.

After hitting the Hess building, the van then drove over the sidewalk and stopped in a paved area, a short distance away from gas pumps.

Merritt and Wagoner were both injured in the crash and transported to Meese Countryside Hospital.

Wagoner was cited for careless driving. 

The crash caused an estimated $4,500 in damage to the Dodge van and $5,500 in damage to the Prius.

The area where the crash occurred is a popular shortcut used by drivers avoiding the Nebraska Avenue and U.S. 19 intersection. 

The Hess Express is located at 33600 U.S. 19.

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