North Port Man Dies After Interstate 75 Crash

A crash on the southbound lanes of I-75 at the Toledo Blade exit resulted in a 20-year old man suffering fatal injuries Sunday.

FHP reports the accident occurred around 8 in the morning when a Pontiac Sunfire driven by Aphrodite Karys, 20, of North Port swirved across the southbound I-75 lanes and collided with a cable barrier careened into the median and struck the cable barrier a second time before coming to rest.

Matthew Phillip Stephens of North Port was a passenger in the car and was fatally injured in the crash. Two other passengers from Port Charlotte (Samantha Johnson, 16 and Paige Phillips, 18) also received minor injuries from the accident.

FHP will file charges pending a full investigation of the accident.

About the Author

Bernie Walsh

Education Bernard F. Walsh graduated from the University of South Florida before receiving his law degree from Cumberland School of Law in 1978. During law school, he was selected to serve as a research clerk and intern for a Federal Judge and the U.S. Attorney's Office. He was awarded The National Book Awards for Constitutional Law and Professional Responsibility during law school. Experience Bernard Walsh devoted the next three years to trial work for the State of Florida. This provided him with the opportunity to concentrate on his trial abilities, with numerous high profile trials concerning serious felony crimes. Since 1982, he has exclusively practiced personal injury law and helped accident victims in and beyond Sarasota and Manatee Counties in Florida. Mr. Walsh has been listed in Avvo, an attorney rating site, as Superb. LexisNexis/Martindale-Hubbell, an attorneys rating publication, has rated Mr. Walsh as very high legal ability and ethical standards. Mr. Walsh is listed in National Trial Lawyers Association as one of the Top 100 Trial Lawyers, and was inducted into Southern Trial Lawyers Association. He has also won the largest playground recoveries, one of the top three motorcycle recoveries, and the second largest daycare center recovery in the State of Florida. He is also a member of the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum. The Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum is a group of attorneys who have achieved career case successes that include multi-million dollar recoveries, settlements and/or verdicts.