By BILL RETTEW JR.

LAKE PLACID — A 17-year-old Lake Placid teenager died Friday after the vehicle she was driving slid off the roadway during a rainstorm, according to a news release issued by the Florida Highway Patrol.

The release, prepared by CPL L. M. Smith Jr., states that Brittany Lea Helms, of Lemon Rd., lost control of a 2000 Nissan at 3:50 p.m. on CR 29, three miles north of SR 70 and was pronounced dead at Florida Hospital in Lake Placid at 5:01 p.m.

Six-year-old Alexis J. Green, of the same address, was a passenger in the front right seat and was also transported to Florida Hospital Lake Placid in serious condition, according to the FHP.

The 6 year old was later transported to Tampa General Hospital and hospital staff reported that Green was in good condition on Saturday morning.

The FHP reported that Helms lost control of the Nissan in the single-car accident when she drove through standing water and then traveled across both the northbound and southbound lanes and into a deep ditch on the west side of the road.

The right front side of Helms car collided with the far embankment of the ditch.

Alcohol was not a factor in the crash and Helms was not wearing a seat seat belt, stated the report. It was unknown by the FHP whether Green was wearing a seat belt.