Vaughn Mongan: Florida man who killed 2 people and a dog in 116 mph house crash gets 27 years in prison
Warning: This article contains a recollection of crime and can be triggering to some, readers' discretion advised
PALM HARBOR, FLORIDA: A tragic incident in Florida resulted in the death of a 69-year-old grandmother, along with her beloved pet dog, and a passenger in a high-speed Tesla crash. Vaughn W Mongan, 45, was recently handed a 27-year prison sentence, with credit for 64 days already served, after pleading guilty to two counts of vehicular homicide and three counts of reckless driving causing serious bodily injury.
According to the criminal complaint, Mongan was driving at a staggering speed of at least 116 miles per hour, which was nearly four times the residential speed limit of 30 mph in Palm Harbor, with additional four passengers in the car, as per Law&Crime. Disregarding a stop sign at the intersection of Hermosa Drive, the Tesla catapulted off the road and crashed into a nearby home on Caird Way after smashing through a vinyl fence.
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Victim Travis Meisman was one of the 5 passengers
The devastating crash claimed the life of Donna Rein, the occupant of the house, who tragically died at the scene. Additionally, Donna Rein's 14-year-old Yorkshire Terrier named Lilly perished in the accident. “The Telsa continued through the residence crashing partially through the front of the residence,” Florida Highway Patrol documents described the incident. Among the five passengers in the vehicle, Travis Meisman lost his life at a local hospital, while Sean Donahue, Colin Keeler, and Christopher French sustained injuries.
Authorities have not indicated that the Tesla's autopilot feature was in use at the time of the incident. The vehicle's owner, Travis Meisman, leaves behind a devastated family who had to relocate to a hotel following the tragic crash. In interviews with local media outlets, Donna Rein's daughters expressed their profound grief and the ongoing pain they endure in the absence of their beloved mother.
'She was my everything!'
Amber Mooney said, "It's been hell... Every day without her hurts more. It doesn't get better. I'm waiting for her to call me. I'm waiting for her to text me," she told WFTS. Lindsey Jones, another daughter of Donna Rein spoke of the ill-fated tragedy and said, "She was my constant... She was my rock, she was my everything." "She affected so many people. Everyone she would meet would just be in awe of her. She was like a rock star," she told WFLA.