New Port Richey Man's Death in Lutz Crash Under Investigation

Update: Ryan Moore was charged with vehicular homicide, reckless driving involving property damage and injury and three counts of felony child neglect in October 2013. A Florida Highway Patrol report also revealed that Moore was under the influence of the inhalant nitrous oxide at the time of the crash. Ryan Moore was serving a 15-year prison term in West Virginia on unrelated drug trafficking charges at the time FHP completed its investigation, the report indicated.

Earlier:

Answers in the death of Lance Rockwell Agin, 52, won’t come fast, but they will come, Florida Highway Patrol officials assured April 2.

That agency is continuing its investigation into the fatal March 22 crash in Lutz that left Agin dead and five others injured, said Sgt. Steve Gaskins, spokesman for the patrol.

The crash occurred as Ryan and Shantel Moore and three children of Land O’ Lakes were driving southbound on U.S. 41 in Lutz approaching Knaus Lane at about 4:30 p.m. on March 22. Their Chevrolet pickup traveled over the raised concrete median and entered into the northbound lanes, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

The truck entered the path of oncoming traffic and collided with the front of a Nissan pickup truck driven by Agin, causing it to rotate. A GMC pickup driven by Terrance Irwin of Hudson then hit into the rear of the vehicle.

The Nissan overturned and came to a final stop on its left side on the east shoulder of U.S. Highway 41, according to the highway patrol.

Agin died at the scene.

All five people in the Moore’s truck were hospitalized. The children, ages 4 to 7, “were OK, relatively minor injuries,” Gaskins said.

Ryan and Shantel Moore, however, “both received very serious injuries and remain hospitalized,” Gaskins said April 2.

The investigation into the cause of the crash is ongoing, Gaskins said.

“We have to await toxicology and other pertinent reports,” Gaskins said. The highway patrol will release more information as it becomes available.

Readers Respond to the Tragedy

As news about the crash broke, readers in all three affected communities spoke out about the loss of Agin, the bravery in the face of tragedy they witnessed at the scene and to share well-wishes for those injured.

“I am visiting from Boston and me and 2 other women helped comfort and clean up the children before EMTs arrived,” wrote New Port Richey Patch reader Nicholas. “I got the privilege of helping Jayden (Moore, 7) who was a very caring boy that although being shook up and hurt cared more about his sisters.”

“I’ve only known Lance and Kathy for a short time and all I can say is that they are beautiful people,” wrote Rlugo on New Port Richey Patch. “They would give the shirts off their backs to help anyone.”

PEACE~ posted an impromptu obituary for Agin on the Lutz, Land O’ Lakes and New Port Richey Patch sites that closed with these lines:

“Lance was a true friend who always had your back. If you were not blessed to have known Lance in this lifetime, you missed one hell of a man.”

Stay with Lutz Patch for updates about the investigation as they become available.