Woman killed in hit-and-run accident near Boca Raton

Driver who left scene found at his home, officials say

By Jerome Burdi
STAFF WRITER

WEST BOCA - A woman struck and killed by a car on Thursday was
hit with such force that it left her body partially dismembered, the Palm
Beach County Sheriffs Office said. Guadalupe Corrizales, 73, who lived
west of Boca Raton, was killed about 6:30 a.m. In the eastbound lanes of
Judge Winikoff Road, just west of Hammock Street, deputies said.
Driver Ronald Falzini III, 19, left the scene, investigators said. But his
mother called the Sheriffs Office to report the crash, and deputies found
him at his home about a half·mile away, In the 10000 block of Country
Brook Road.
Falzini parked the lnfiniti G35 sedan in the driveway of an abandoned house next door, investigators said. The front of the car was crushed and smeared with blood.
Falzini had not been charged late Thursday, but he did require hospital
treatment, investigators said. There was "an odor of alcohol emanating from him and a blood sample was taken for analysis," according to the accident report.
Corrizales' family members went to the accident scene, formed a circle
and held hands while saying a prayer Thursday morning, but they declined
to comment. Neighborhood resident Jim DeFago, 84, was on his morning walk on
Judge Winikoff Road when he saw the Infiniti "zoom by."
"I thought, 'He's going to hit somebody'," DeFago said. "He must have been going 80 mph.'' The posted speed limlt on the four lane Judge Winikoff Road Is 45 mph. The investigation is ongoing, but investigators said It appears the car was speeding.

Staff researcher Barbara HiJek
contributed to this report.

Sun Sentinel
Broward County
Daily 347,700
May 13, 2011

Kawasaki hits curb, rider killed

ORANGE COUNTY

A Gainesville motorcyclist was killed in Orange County
late Wednesday, the Florida Highway Patrol said. The 27-
year-old man was riding north on State Road 436, south of
Raiders Run, when the 2008 Kawasaki hit the outside curb,
then drove up onto the curb for about 30 feet. The rider lost
control and crashed into a concrete wall along the sidewalk,
troopers said. The motorcycle then slid about 230 feet,
eventually hitting a wood utility pole. The rider was pronounced
dead at a local hospital. Authorities were withholding his name until relatives could be told. No other vehicles were involved, and
there were no other injuries.

Orlando Sentinel
May 13, 2011

-Jeff Weiner

Minnesota biker dies after collision with pickup

ST. PETERSBURG

A Minnesota man riding a motorcycle
was killed after he collided with pickup
Friday afternoon on Dr. Martin Luther
King Jr. Street S, police Slid.
Robert J. Ross, 27, was Riding a 2001
Suzuki north when he collided with a
southbound 1996 GMC Sonoma pickup
turning left into a convenience store
parking lot in tile 1400 block, police said.
Ross of St. Paul, Minn., was pronounced
dead at Bayfront Medical Center
about three hours after the 4:50p.m.
crash, St Petersburg police said. He was
not wearing a helmet.
The driver of the pickup, Eugene Lee
Flournory, 59, of St. Petersburg, was
taken to Bayfront with minor injuries.

St Petersburg Times
Pinellas County
May 14,2011

Troopers: Witnesses chase down hit-and-rum driver

Motorists who witnessed an SUV hitting a motorcyclist on I-95 chased down the SUV and held the driver until police arrived, Florida Highway Patrol troopers said.

BY JOE CAVARETTA
Sun Sentinel

An SUV driver who, troopers say, tried to flee after striking a motorcyclist on Interstate 95 in South
Broward early Sunday was chased for almost five miles, wrestled to the ground and held for the authorities by a Dania Beach man. "I ride a motorcycle,'' said John Roxey, 61, "and I wasn't going to let
him get away." Corey Rogers Seltenright, 30, of Fort L1uderdale. was arrested and charged with careless
driving, driving under the influence with serious bodily injury and property damage, and leaving the scene of a crash with injuries, according to Sgt. Mark Wysocky of the Florida Highway Patrol.
The driver of the motorcycle hit by the SUV, Ytzhak Hartzy, 42, of Aventura, was in critical but stable condition Sunday at Memorial Regional Hospital in Hollywood, FHP said. Hartzy was not wearing a helmet. Several northbound lanes of l-95 were closed for a few hours after the 8:30 a.m. crash.
Roxey said he was driving his car onto northbound I-95 from Hallandale Beach Boulevard when an SUV cut him off. Just north of the ramp, he said, the SUV hit the motorcyclist. "The motorcyclist went up in the air and then he rolled down the highway a few hundred feet," said Roxey.
He gave chase with another witness, an active-duty Army serviceman in a pickup truck on his way to
Fort Bragg, N.C. The second man did not wish to talk, and FHP didn't release his name.
The SUV, a black Kia Sorrento driven by Seltenright, continued to the Sheridan Street exit, its airbags deployed and its front right headlight dangling from the crumpled fender.
Roxey's Hyundai Accent and the second man's pickup boxed the Sorrento into the left-turn lane at Oakwood Boulevard, just east of I-95 in Hollywood.
"I yanked him out of me car and I put a headlock on him and held him on the concrete:· Roxey said.
"His partner came around to try to help him, and I kicked him and he ran away. I just held the guy until the
cops came," he said.
"The adrenaline just rushed in." The passenger, Alfredo Gracian-Silva, 41, of Lauderdale- by- th e -Sea, was not charged. "We've all had close calls - this is South Florida. Too many people don't stop,"
Roxey said.
"I'm just overwhelmed. I'm glad I got him." Asked whether people should be encouraged to do what Roxey did, Wysocky cautioned against it. "You really don't want to confront someone in a case
like this," he said. "You never know what they have in the car. But they also called 911 and me city of
Hollywood police arrived on the scene."


Miami Herald
Miami Dade County
May 16, 2011

Minor injuries in bus vs. car Friday

KATHIE COLGROVE
NCR Reporter
A Nassau County school bus transporting 27 students collided with a car in Callahan Friday morning.
Two of the students complained of minor injuries. The crash occurred just after 8:30 a.m. at the intersection of · Mickler Street and Second Avenue as the bus was traveling to West Nassau High School. Following the collision, the students were transferred to Bus No.389 and transported to school, said Bus Route Coordinator Susan Malcolm.
Janice Frost, 57, of Fernandina Beach was driving Bus No. 376 northbound on Mickler Street. As she was turning left onto Second Avenue, Roberts, 47, of Callahan was driving a 2008 Chevy that was stopped in the eastbound lane of Second Avenue neat the intersection, according to a Florida Highway Patrol media release. Frost traveled across the eastbound lanes while she was turning the bus, causing the left side of the bus to collide with the front left side of Roberts' vehicle. Donald Cope, 20, of Callahan was listed as a passenger in Roberts' car, according to the
report. The Chevy sustained approximately $2,000 in damages. Frost, Roberts and Cope wore seatbelts. Alcohol was not a factor in the crash, according to the release.
Nassau County Fire Rescue personnel responded to the scene to render aid. Frost was cited for reckless driving, said FHP Lt. Joel Bill Leeper.

kcolgrovrfi!tnassaucountyrecord.com

Woman released by police, then is killed after being hit by truck

Ormond Beach police first encountered the woman Thursday when she was found
passed out in a bathroom.

By Gary Taylor
STAFF WRITER

A Port Orange woman died early
Friday, about two hours after she walked
out of the Daytona Beach Police Department and was then hit by a pickup. Kimberly J. Staton, 36, of Port Orange was pronounced dead at 12:10 am. at Halifax Health Medical Center where she was taken following the crash at 10:18 p.m. Thursday, police said.
The crash occurred on Williamson Boulevard near Valor Boulevard, which is the entrance to the police department. Ormond Beach police first encountered
Staton about 12:40 pm Thursday when she was found passed out in a bathroom
and was rushed to Ormond Memorial Hospital, Daytona Beach police spokesman Jimmie Flynt said.

Daytona Beach police received a call about an unruly intoxicated person at the
hospital just before 6:30 p.m. That person was Staton, who was cleared by the hospital to leave, Flynt said. Although Staton didn't face any criminal charges, she
was taken to the police station because she was too intoxicated to be released on her
own, he said.
At 10 pm, Staton was allowed to leave, Flynt said.
According to an accident report, Staton ran across Williamson Boulevard, in a
construction area, right into the path of a pickup driven by Robert W. Fowler of Port
Orange. Fowler was traveling at tile posted speed limit of 45 mph and was unable to
stop in time to avoid hitting the woman, police said.
No charges have been filed in the crash

Orlando Sentinel
Orange County
May 7, 2011

Traffic crashes kill 3 in bay area; hit-run driver sought

Three people were killed in separate accidents across the Tampa Bay area early this weekend.
A man died from injuries after he was struck by a sport utility vehicle in Tampa early Saturday
while crossing against the traffic light on 50th Street at Broadway Avenue, police said. The SUV
driver never stopped.
Aaron Keith Cordes, 57, was pushing a shopping can in the crosswalk when he was struck by
the northbound SUV, police said. Several witnesses tried to render aid to Cordes until police officers and paramedics arrived and started CPR Cordes died several hours later.
Police are searching for a black SUV, possibly a 1990s or early 2000 model, with chrome trim.
The front end may be marked with blue paint from the shopping cart.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Tampa Police Department at (813) 231-6130.

In Clearwater, a scooter driver died Friday evening after being hit by a car, city officials said.
The crash happened at Drew and NE Cleveland streets just before 9 p.m. Authorities said
a 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee driven by Jennifer Ruth Knoepp, 47,of Seminole, turned in front of
the scooter and bit it The scooters driver- Malia del Carmen Ruiz de Rentetia, 44, of Pinellas
Park- died at a hospital. Her passenger - lbolonia lbrres, 41, of Clearwater - was flown to
Bayfront Medical Center with injuries that were serious but not life-threatening. Alcohol is not
believed to be a factor, authorities said. Knoepp was cited for a right-of-way violation.

And a 27-year-old Tampa man died Friday night after he lost control of his motorcycle on the
Veterans Expressway and hit a guardrail, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. Christopher Mello was traveling south near Linebaugh Avenue just before midnight when he lost oontrol of his 2005 Yamaha on a curve and struck the guardrail on the west shoulder, the Highway Patrol said. He died at the scene. Mello was wearing a helmet. The incident remains under investigation.

St Petersburg Times
Pinellas County
May 15, 2011

Graceville motorcyclist killed in Friday crash

A 59-year-old Graceville man was killed while riding his Harley Davidson motorcycle Friday night in Holmes County, just outside of Graceville ..
According to the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) report, David Allen was
struck while at the intersection of State 173 and State 2, west of Graceville. A
2005 Ford Taurus driven by 34-year-old Kimberly Miller of Noma. Was traveling southbound on SR 173 and attempted to make a left turn on to SR 2.
Miller pulled into the path of the motorcycle. The right front of her vehicle struck the front of Allen's motorcycle in the westbound traffic lane of SR 2. Allen was thrown from the
motorcycle into the eastbound traffic lane. He was taken to a Tallahassee hospital,
where he died from his injuries. Allen was not wearing a helmet at the time of the
crash, the .FHP said in the report.

Graceville News
Jackson County
Aprll7, 2011

Semi-trailer hits truck on U.S. 301

Ronny Adalid Mejia Mungua
had a run-in with a Mac truck
Saturday evening and lived to
tell about it.
A Florida Highway Patrol
investigator said Mungua, 25,
pulled out in front of the truck,
driven by46-year-old Michael
Joseph Bennett at the intersection
of County Road 1471 and
U.S. 301. Bennett swerved to
avoid plowing into Mungua, but
instead hit the rear of Mungoua's
1996 GMC Jimmy.
Bennett's truck rotated and
then overturned on its side in
the southbound lanes of U.S.
301, blocking traffic for about 40
minutes.
Both drivers were sent to
Shands for minor injuries.
Ocala Star Banner
Marion County
April18, 2011

Motorcycle Crash Kills Two

Two people are dead
after the motorcycle they
were riding in crashed in
Orlando.
The Orlando Police Department
said Miguel and Mary Luz Santiago, 35 and
37, were traveling behind
another motorcycle late
Friday evening.
The motorcycle in front
of them stopped for a traffic
light and they crashed
behind him.
They were pronounced
dead at a local hospital.
Lakeland Ledger
Polk County
April18, 2011

Dies when struck, dragged by car

BCHS senior was in group drawn by fight
A Baker County High School senior is dead and a Macclenny man is in jail without bond following a fatal confrontation in a west city neighborhood the evening of April 11th. Michael Washington, 19, is charged with running down Rasbard Belford, 18, with his
car following a fight at the corner of MLK Dr. and Minnesota Ave. about 8:15.
Witnesses told police Mr. Washington got into a 2001 Chevrolet sedan parked in his yard at the intersection and aimed it for another person, who intervened in the fight involving the suspect's sisters.
Instead, he ran over Mr. Belford and the vehicle dragged him underneath as Mr. Washington did not heed others in the immediate vicinity and continued to drive in circles with the victim still under the car.
When Deputy Earl Lord arrived at the scene minutes later, the victim was lying on the pavement of MLK. He was flown to Shands Jacksonville where he later died.
Mr. Belford had cerebral palsy and a stroke in early life that affected his right arm and caused him to walk with a limp.
Witness Laconda Ruise, 36, who lives nearby, told police Mr. Washington was aiming for her son Kevohntae Hadley, 18, who
moments before got involved in the nearby fight on behalf of his sister, age 16. The melee also involved Mr. Washington's sisters,
ages 16 and 17. They were fighting over a boy. The sisters told Deputy Lord their brother was only attempting to move their mother's car out of the yard when be struck Mr. Belford with the right front. Ms. Ruise said the accused continued to attempt
running down her son even after Mr. Belford's body broke loose from the undercarriage. Mr. Washington then drove the Chevrolet back onto his mother's property and ran inside her trailer. He later surrendered without incident.
Pending an investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol, he is charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. He
reportedly told police he did not realize he had struck Mr. Belford, who was standing on the sidewalk west of MLK and was
one of dozens of persons who gathered in the vicinity when fight broke out. Mr. Washington made a first appearance in court early Tuesday afternoon, and is on felony probation which was violated later that day.

He was arrested last year for Battery on a county deputy during a disturbance in the same neighborhood, and pleaded to a reduced charge of resisting arrest. About 24 hours after the tragedy, a prayer vigil was organized at the street and under a massive oak tree.
Among the attendees were the victim’s parents Bo and Diane Belford. Tarrece Givins, chairman of Baker County Pastors’ and Ministers’ Council, spearheaded the vigil to call attention to the violent and unnecessary death and to, in his words, “Pray Satan ot of Baker County.” Sheriff Joey Dobson called for healing and change also. “We’re here to protect you, but we can’t raise your children for you. That must begin at home. Calm heads are what we need to proceed with now. Let’s not let the event fuel any further tragedies,” he said.

KellyWilliams, one in the team special ed teachers at Baker County High School who worked closely with Mr. Belford, was saddened at the young man’s loss. “he was a lovable, outgoing, outspoken and he didn’t let his handicap stop him. His presence in the classroom will be greatly missed,” Mr. Williams said. Mr. Williams admired Mr. Belford for his positive approach to obstacles and his ability to make other students laugh. “His dream was to be an athlete, especially a Wildcat,” he said.
Rev. Givens admired Rashard for another reason. As soon as he received the tragic news of the young man’s death, he began scrambling to put the prayer vigil together. “Rashard greatly made an impact on me two weeks ago when we held our community empowerment rally,” he said. “No one asked him, but he simply showed up wanting to help. Even with his handicap he was out the setting up tents and chairs and then helping break everything down when it was over.”
Billy Lee, who with wife Eddie Mae Fields, raised Rahard, lamented the fact that it was only himself and his wife now. “He had a stroke when he was little, he couldn’t use hand and he had a limp but he never let that stop him from doing anything,” Mr. Lee said.

The victims uncle James Rollins, who lives in Jacksonville, remembers getting the terrible phone call. “My brother told me someone had run over Roly Poly [Rashard’s nick name], they were life-flighting him to Shands, but he probably wouldn’t make it.” he said, “I couldn’t believe it. He just couldn’t move fast enough like the other who were out there, he couldn’t get out of the way.” He shook his head and looked at the ground.

“Roly Poly, all he ever wanted to do was help you. He would give you the shirt from his back, that’s how he was.”

Auburndale Man Killed in Crashon State Road 60

A 26-year-old Auburndale
man died in a head-on
crash on State Road 60
east of Lake Wales late
Saturday, the 'Polk County
Sheriff's Office said.
Phillip Craig Durden, of
209 Ariana Ave_, the driver
of a 2002 Ford F-150 that
was pulling a ·trailer, was
killed, deputies reported.
About 10:30 p.m, Durden
was traveling east in the
westbound lanes of
S.R. 60 west of Capps Road,
sheriff's spokeswoman
Donna Wood said. His
truck collided with a 1997
International tractor-trailer
filled with citrus molasses
that was traveling west on
the highway.
The tractor-trailer
crossed the median and
blocked eastbound lanes.
Durden's truck caught fire,
reports said. Durden died
at the scene. It wasn't immediately
known whether
he was wearing a seat belt,
Wood said.
The driver of the tractor-trailer,
Jay Michael Batson,
41, of Tindel Camp Road in
Lake Wales, who was wearing
a seat belt, was treated
at Lake Wales Medical
Center and was released.
The accident closed
S.R. 60 until5 a.m Sunday,
officials said.
Lakeland Ledger
Polk County
April 18, 2011

Man arrested, woman hospitalized after rollover crash

A rollover crash in Floral City put a woman in the hospital and a man behind bars on DUI charges.

According to the Florida Highway Patrol, Steven M. Dickson, 62, was driving east on County Road 48 near Istachatta Road shortly before 10:30 p.m. Thursday when an animal darted into the road.

Troopers said Dickson swerved to miss the animal and drove onto the south shoulder, where his Chevrolet SSR to overturned.

Both Dickson and his passenger, Deborah A. Dickson, 62, were thrown from the vehicle.

Deborah Dickson was taken by air to Tampa General Hospital with serious injuries.

Steven Dickson was arrested after troopers said he smelled of alcohol and had bloodshot eyes. His breath test registered at 0.155, which is nearly twice the legal limit, investigators said.

Dickson was taken to Citrus County Jail on charges of driving under the influence with serious injury.

for more information please visit: http://www.baynews9.com/article/news/2011/may/244504/Man-arrested-woman-hospitalized-after-rollover-crash

Dangerous Hernando Co. curve to become safer

Busted up fence posts and a roadside memorial are just a few indications that something bad happened along a Hernando County road.

In the past few months two people were killed after they lost control of their cars along a curve on Mondon Hill Road near Bertram Road.

Fred Munao lives nearby and remembers the most recent wreck last month.

"The car was still running on its side and everything," he said. "It was pretty bad, sad, a young girl."

Hernando County leaders realize the curve is dangerous so they're going to try and make it safer. The plan is to add some warning signs, reflective posts and make speed limit signs bigger.

County officials say those improvements should be done in the next couple of weeks.

"That's good," Munao said. "At least they are doing something."

County leaders are also going to do a road safety analysis of Mondon Hill Road to find other dangerous spots.

for more information please visit: http://www.baynews9.com/article/news/2011/may/245265/Dangerous-Hernando-Co-curve-to-become-safer

Severe weather causes fatal accident

A 48-year-old woman died from her injuries after a car accident that occurred on SR 62 East of Duette Road Saturday afternoon.

According to the report, the driver of the truck, Luis Paulin-Hernandez, 51, lost control while traveling eastbound on SR 62 because of the inclement weather.

Officials say the truck spun and overturned into a ditch before hitting a tree.

Paulin-Hernandez received minor injuries and was transported to Florida Hospital in Wachula.

Paulin-Hernandez's passenger, Isidora Paulin, 48, was pronounced dead at the scene.

for more information please visit: http://www.baynews9.com/article/news/2011/may/245206/Severe-weather-causes-fatal-accident

Motorcyclist killed, deputy hurt during two-county pursuit

A motorcyclist was killed and a Pasco County deputy injured after a traffic stop turned into a two-county pursuit.

According to reports, Dep. Ashley Grady stopped a Dodge Ram pick-up truck on suspicion of DUI at about 7:19 a.m. Tuesday at the intersection of U.S. 19 and Florestate Drive in Hudson.

Deputies said the suspect, later identified as 21-year-old Brittany Elizabeth Miles of Spring Hill, had been handcuffed when she somehow got back into the truck and took off with Grady reaching into the window to stop her from fleeing.

Officials said Miles drove across three lanes of U.S. 19 with Grady hanging from the window, deputies said. Grady fell off the truck in the southbound lanes.

Miles then fled north into Hernando County on U.S. 19. She was approaching the intersection with County Line Road when she sped through a red light, investigators said.

Henry F. McCain, 66, was heading west on County Line Road in the left turn lane and had just entered the intersection when Miles crashed into him, the Florida Highway Patrol said.

McCain was declared dead at the scene.

Barbara Stern was in her car at the intersection of U.S. 19 and County Line road at the time.

"Everything went through the air," she said. "It just went through the air. Metal was flying everywhere."

Stern said she almost became part of the chaos.

"A couple of seconds later it would have been me," Stern said. "I had an angel watching over me."

Beth Richards saw debris from the crash a half-a-mile away.

"It almost looked as if there was a fire starting in the distance but it was dirt," she said, "so you know something happened ahead."

Miles continued north, despite flat tires on her truck, until she was arrested by deputies near Spring Hill Drive and U.S. 19, the report said.

Grady was taken by helicopter to a local hospital. She suffered a head injury and scrapes, but she is expected to be okay.

The Florida Highway Patrol has charged Miles with homicide in addition to charges filed by the Pasco County Sheriff's Office. Miles, the daughter of a Hernando County Sheriff's deputy, remains in jail in Hernando County.

FHP is asking any witnesses to the crash involving Miles and the motorcyclist to call 352-754-6767.

for more information please visit: http://www.baynews9.com/article/news/2011/may/242111/Motorcyclist-killed-deputy-hurt-during-twocounty-pursuit

Driver sought in fatal pedestrian accident

Tampa Police are investigating a hit-and-run in which a driver killed a pedestrian in Tampa.

According to the report, Aaron Cordes was pushing a shopping cart across 50th Street on Broadway in the crosswalk against the traffic light when the driver of an SUV, who had a green light, hit Cordes.

Investigators say the driver continued northbound on 50th Street without stopping to help Cordes.

Several witnesses stopped to help Cordes before Tampa Police and Fire Rescue responded.

Cordes was rushed to the hospital, where he later died several hours later.

The suspect vehicle is described as a 1993-94 black or dark-colored Ford Explorer with chrome trim. The vehicle should have right front-end damage, which may consist of blue paint from the shopping cart Cordes was pushing. The right front turn signal lens cover will also be damaged.

The Tampa Police Department is actively working this case and asking anyone to call (813-231-6130) if they see this vehicle or if they have any additional information about this fatality.

for more information please visit: http://www.baynews9.com/article/news/2011/may/245042/Driver-sought-in-fatal-pedestrian-accident

Wreck lands baby, woman in hospital

Wreck lands baby,
woman in hospital
A Putnam County woman and
a baby were hospitalized with
injuries Tuesday night after an
accident north of State Road
100, according to a Florida
Highway Patrol news release.
Taken to Shands at the
University of Florida in critical
condition was Megan Michaela
Mackie, 22, of 104 Homestead
Road, as was a baby in serious
condition. The baby's name
was not released. The accident
occurred at 7:57p.m. on
County Road 3090 north of
State Road 100.
Mackie was driving a 1999
Ford Escort north on CR 3090
when she drifted off the road to
the left, hit a culvert, went
airborne, struck branches on a
pine tree and overturned to
land on the roof, the release
stated.
Mackie was wearing her seat
belt and the infant was in a
restrained child seat. They had
to be removed from the car
with a cutting tool while
witnesses said they put out a
small fire with water.
FHP is continuing to investigate
why Mackie drove off the
road.
- Cindy Swirko
Gainesville Sun
Alachua County
April21, 2011

Man arrested on DUI, drug charges

Man arrested on DUI, drug charges
after crashing car into shoppers
A Sanibel Island man was arrested Monday after his car
jumped a sidewalk at a south Fort Myers store, injuring
three elderly people.
Curtis Vincent Gates Jr., 39, of the 1500 block of Periwinkle
Way, was charged with driving while under the influence
of alcohol or drugs, producing drugs and three counts of
property damage.
According to Lee County Sheriff's Office reports:
About 3:30 p.m., a 1993 Ford Taurus plowed into a cart on
Gates
injured.
the front sidewalk of Dollar General, 8750
Gladiolus Drive.
"The cart slammed one victim into the
door, breaking the glass, and the other was
thrown through the open door onto the
ground inside the store," the deputy wrote.
A woman was taken to a hospital as a trauma
alert because of low blood pressure. Her
husband was brushed by the car and not
seriously injured. Another man also was
The victims are in their late 80s and from Fort Myers,
according to the report. Their names were not immediately
released.
Gates told witnesses his car's brakes went out as he backed
into a parking spot. Instead of checking on the victims, he
checked the brake fluid. He told a deputy the power steering
unit went out
As deputies spoke to him, he put a white pill in his mouth
and said it was Tylenol, then said: "I mean nothing." The
driver continued to talk to deputies and a small white
chunk fell from his mouth to the ground. It was identified
as Xanax.
He passed out in the patrol car on the way to jail and
again at the jail.
Gates failed field sobriety tests but refused to take a
breath test, saying: "(Expletive) it. I can ride my bike to
work for that."
Naples Daily News
Collier County
April 20,2011

School bus involved in accident

School bus involved in accident
Roger R. West
Last Thursday started out as any
other normal school day for 12-yearold
Jessica Hartman of Hilliard,
however that all changed in a blink of
the eye. Her school bus stopped on US
1 in front of Buford Grove Baptist
Church. As she made her way onto the
bus and preceded down the aisle to her
seat, a semi log hauler careened into'
the rear of the bus. Jessica was thrown
to the floor as the bus was hurled
forward from the impact. Jessica was
the only student on the bus at the time
of the accident. ·
Luckily for Jessica and the school
bus driver Janet Jones, neither received
serious injuries. Jessica was
transported to Shands Hospital by
Nassau County Fire Rescue for
precautionary measures with minor
injuries. Mrs. Jones complained only of
minor leg pain at the scene. The truck
driver was not. injured.
James Cothern of Blackshear, Georgia was driving his log truck north
on US 1 heading back to Georgia after
an early morning haul to the mill. He
stated he did not see the school bus
stopped in the road in time to stop his
rig. Cothern was charged as the at-fault
driver in the accident. The Florida
Highway Patrol reported that Mrs.
Jones had properly stopped the bus
with its warning . lights on and stop
signs deployed. •
Westside Journal
Nassau County
April 21 , 2011

1 dead in Yellow River Bridge wreck

1 dead in Yellow River Bridge wreck
By Bill Gamblin
news@srpressgazette.com
State Road 87 was closed for several
hours Friday while authorities investigated
a fatality at the Yellow River
Bridge.
According to a Florida Highway Patrol
press release, Lamar Archie, 26,
of Navarre, was pronounced dead by a
lifeguard paramedic at the scene of the
6:15 a.m. traffic accident April 8 on the
Yellow River Bridge.
The FHP release stated that Archie
was northbound on State Road 87
when, for unknown reasons, he traveled
across the center line.
Ryan Thomas Lipsey, 23, of Grand
Ridge, was headed south on State 87 in
a Peterbilt truck and moved to the right
emergency lane to avoid Archie's car.
The FHP report indicated the front
of Archie's car struck the left front of
the truck driven by Lipsey, which was ·
on the painted white "fog" line for
southbound traffic.
Lipsey refused treatment at the
scene, and charges are pending the
completion of the traffic homicide investigation.
Traffic Friday morning was being
diverted at Hickory Hammock Road on
the north side, and East Bay Boulevard
on the south side during the investigation
at the sc.ene. Alternate routes of
State 85 or the Garcon Point Bridge
were suggested by law enforcement.
The toll was not lifted to cross the
Garcon Point Bridge.
Santa Rosa Press Gazette
April 13, 2011