Editor’s note: This story first ran in the Venice Gondolier and is re-published here with permission.

SOUTH VENICE — Two people were killed and a third suffered serious injuries in a Sunday afternoon crash at U.S. 41/Tamiami Trail and East Seminole Drive in South Venice.

The dead include a 37-year-old San Antonio, Florida, woman and a 37-year-old Alachua man. Another 23-year-old Gainesville man was seriously injured.

All three were in a sedan. The woman was the driver; the Alachua man was the front seat passenger.

According to a Florida Highway Patrol report, at about 1:20 p.m. Sunday, the woman was driving the sedan northbound on U.S. 41/Tamiami Trail. At the same time, an 80-year-old Venice man was driving a sports utility vehicle eastbound on Seminole Drive.

“The investigation remains ongoing, to determine which vehicle entered the intersection on green traffic signal,” the report stated, noting both vehicles “entered the intersection at the same time.”

The SUV struck the left side of the sedan. The sedan then hit a traffic control cabinet, control mast and sign, the FHP report stated.

The driver of the sedan was wearing a seatbelt; the passenger and backseat passenger were not.

The driver of the SUV and his passenger, an 80-year-old Venice woman, suffered minor injuries. They were wearing safety belts, it noted.

The San Antonio woman and Alachua man were pronounced dead at the scene. The Gainesville man was transported to an area hospital.

Portions of the road were closed throughout much of Sunday afternoon and evening during the initial investigation.

The Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office is assisting Florida Highway Patrol with the investigation.

The investigation remains underway.