The family and friends of 19-year-old Tampa, Florida resident Matthew Owen announce his unexpected death with deep sorrow and heavy hearts. After going missing for a few weeks, Matthew was sadly discovered dead in his car on the section of Interstate 75 near Progress Boulevard in Riverview. Those who knew and loved him are struggling to accept the truth of this tragic loss, and this terrible news has placed a pall over them.
On a seemingly ordinary Monday afternoon, a road crew made the discovery. A red convertible Mazda Miata was partially hidden by the surrounding brush and greenery when workers were performing maintenance close to I-75. After more examination, the Florida Highway Patrol was promptly dispatched to the location and the authorities were notified. Matthew Owen, the only occupant at the time of the collision, was found dead inside the severely damaged vehicle.
While the precise circumstances of the crash remain unclear, preliminary analyses indicate that the event could have occurred weeks before the finding. It’s thought that Matthew lost control of the car, which sadly led to an instantaneous crash that killed him. The fact that the accident happened in a remote area and the car was partially obscured from view may have contributed to the delay in identifying the vehicle.
Friends, relatives, and the larger Tampa community were alarmed by Matthew’s abrupt absence. Posts, prayers, and hopeful messages urging his safe return poured over social media for days. In the hopes that someone might recognize him or provide vital information, flyers with his picture and description were put up in local communities and online forums. Matthew’s family held onto hope that he would make it back home safely. It is so evident in every discussion about the occurrence that the tragic revelation of his death has left an enduring impression of anguish and sorrow.