A University of Tampa student died of fatal injuries sustained in a one-car accident March 5 at approximately 10:15 p.m, according to a UT global email.
According to the report by FHP, freshman Russell Colleran, 19, was driving a 2009 five-passenger Dodge Caliber. It overturned several times after veering off the road onto a grass shoulder. It is still unknown why Colleran drove off the roadway.
FHP investigators say that Byers, in one of the vehicle’s passenger seats, was not wearing her seatbelt during the time of the accident.
According to an article by Channel 10News, Colleran suffered a broken sternum, a collapsed lung and head injuries.
Colleran, a performing arts major, is back on campus and recovering from his injuries. He declined an interview with The Minaret reporters.
UT students Christopher Perry, 22, Jonathan Mojica, 22, Amanda Mancuso, 22, and Gregory Munnings, 21, were also in the car.
According to the article by 10News, these passengers suffered only minor injuries.
Byers was known for her recent role as cinematographer in the film Queer, a campus finalist in the AT&T Wild Card category for UT’s Campus Movie Fest.
Byers, from Carmel, Indiana, was a criminology major and an active member of UT’s theater department.
Her friends and colleagues remember her most for her positive attitude.
“You could just tell from the beginning that she was going to be one of the easiest people to get along with,” said Sarah Friswell, a senior sociology major who knew Byers from the theater and work.
Byers is also remembered as being a fun person to be around.
“There’s nothing about her that’s not awesome,” said junior English major KC Shaffer. “She was just an all-around fun person to be with and spend time with. She always had a smile on her face.”
Byers also had a great impact on her professors.
“She was the type of person that made people smile,” said associate professor in the speech, theatre and dance department Michael Staczar. “She had one of those spirits that made people want to be her friend.”
The Minaret will keep you updated on further investigation details and any plans for a campus vigil or memorial.
who cares? she is fine.
You have your facts wrong. Amanda Mancuso is 19 (I know her personally) and yet you have her listed as 22. What other facts did you not bother to check?