Charges Upgraded in Bloomingdale Fatal Accident

The Florida Highway Patrol announced that it has upgraded charges against a Tampa man involved in a crash that killed a 5-year-old girl at the intersection of Bloomingdale Avenue and U.S. 301.

According to a highway patrol report, Rolando Rojas, 52, is now charged with driving under the influence manslaughter, reckless driving involving serious injury, four counts of DUI involving property damage and DUI. The original charges against him following the accident Friday were vehicular homicide and DUI with serious bodily injury.

Five-year-old Lilly Mills of Riverview died from injuries sustained in the accident.

According to the highway patrol, Rojas was driving north on U.S. 301 in a 1999 Ford Ranger when he tried to pass between two vehicles that were stopped for traffic south of Bloomingdale Avenue. He sideswiped two cars and then continued into the intersection where he crashed into the passenger side of a 2002 Chrysler minivan.

Two adults and four children were in the minivan driven by Samantha Anne Populin.