Drivers, passengers hurt in unrelated Pines crashes

Two young drivers were hospitalized after unrelated crashes in Pembroke Pines that police are investigating for excessive speeds.

As midnight approached Monday, Natalia Cano, 21, of Hollywood was behind the wheel of a Honda Civic that was traveling north on Palm Avenue, north ofTaft Street.

Cano lost control of the Honda, it spun off the road and became wrapped around a tree, Pembroke Pines Sgt. AdamFeiner said.

Photographs released by Police Department showthe front end of theHonda separated from the rest of the car’s body.

Cano and passenger Blake Metz, 20, also ofHollywood, are in critical condition at Memorial Regional Hospital in Hollywood, the agency saidTuesday.

About three hours later and four miles southwest, Justin Laughton-Simpson, 22, of Pembroke Pines was driving a Honda Accord west along the16900block of Southwest 16th Street.

Laughton-Simpson lost control, drove the Honda across the oncoming traffic lane and crashed into a tree, Feiner said.

The collision happened in the Lido Isles community, north ofPembrokeRoad and east of Southwest172ndAvenue.

Laughton-Simpson had serious injurieswhenhewas to taken Memorial Regional Hospital after the 2:50 a.m. crashTuesday, police said.

His passengers— Jasmine Witherspoon, 18, Christopher Soto, 22, and Antonio Ramirez, 20, all from Miramar — were treated at the scene and released, police said.

Feiner, who investigates traffic homicides, said, "The law enforcement community recognizes that during the summer months, younger drivers typically stay out later and likely participate in social events. We hope that if anybody is drinking alcohol that they use a designated driver.

"As drivers gain experience, they understand the consequences of reckless driving," Feiner said. "The most vulnerable and inexperienced drivers usually take the most risks. We urge all drivers to be safe when they are behind the wheel and to not drive while distracted."