Two South Florida men killed, another critical after Interstate 75 crash in Sarasota County

SARASOTA -- Two men from South Florida were killed and another suffered critical injuries after a single-vehicle crash Sunday morning on Interstate 75 in Sarasota County, according to a Florida Highway Patrol report.

Passengers Matthew A. Santayana, 22, of Margate, and Luis M. Villena, 21, of West Palm Beach, were killed in the 8:45 a.m. crash in the northbound lanes of I-75 at mile marker 195.

The vehicle's driver, Michael J. Panopio-Mones, 18, of Miami, was listed in critical condition Sunday at Tampa General Hospital.

They were traveling in the left northbound lane in a 2015 Mazda 6 at a higher rate of speed than traffic ahead when the crash occurred, according to the FHP report.

Panopio-Mones lost control of the vehicle and traveled into the median, colliding with a concrete culvert. After impacting the culvert, the car was vaulted into the air with the right side and roof colliding with a utility pole.

The vehicle came to rest on its roof in the median. Panopio-Mones, who was wearing a seat belt, was airlifted from the scene for medical treatment. Santayana and Villena were pronounced dead at the scene. It was unknown whether they had been wearing seat belts, according to the FHP report.

Alcohol was not listed as a factor.

This story was originally published February 21, 2016 at 11:22 PM with the headline "Two South Florida men killed, another critical after Interstate 75 crash in Sarasota County ."