Woman, 85, dies after Aug. 5 crash

Woman, 85, dies after

Aug. 5 crash

By JULIUS WHIGHAM II

Palm Beach Post Staff Writer

A suburban Boca Raton

woman died Saturday

morning after being hit by

a car earlier this month,

the Palm Beach County

Sheriff's Office said.

Miriam ]. Link, 85, died

at Jackson Memorial Hospital

in Miami. She was

s truck Aug. 5 in the 22000

block of Camino Del Mar.

According to a sheriffs

crash report, Link was

waiting at a crosswalk to

be picked up by her caretaker,

who was driving

Link's vehicle. Delrose

M. Reynolds, 57, of Coral

Springs, backed the 2000

Lexus out of a parking

spot to get closer to Link.

But Reynolds hit the accelerator

thinking it was

the brake, the report said.

She struck Link, knocking

her to the ground.

®

Palm Beach Post

Palm Beach County

August 31, 2011

Motorcyclist killed in crash

TAMPA -A 25-year-old man was killed when he wrecked a motorcycle early Thursday morning.

The man, whose name has not been released, was traveling north at high speed on Nebraska Avenue about 2 a.m., according to the Tampa Police Department. At East Yukon Street, he crashed into the back of a pickup, authorities said.

Emergency crews took him to Tampa General Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Police look at traffic collision, crash was in neighborhood

A 23-year-old man died Tuesday when the car in which he was a passenger smashed into a truck at high speed on a residential street in Palm Bay.

Police said Robert Alexander Williams died at the scene where a Chevrolet Impala ran into a Silverado as the truck was being backed out of a residential driveway in the 1300 block of Jupiter Boulevard.

The deadly two-vehicle crash happened about 2:30 a.m.

"The Impala was going about 100 mph before It crashed," said Yvonne Martinez, spokeswoman for the Palm Bay Police Department.

The driver of the Impala identified as Scott Bradford Williams, 22 -was airlifted to Holmes Regional Medical Center. Police said the driver was not related to the victim. Two other crash victims­ Adam Beyer, the 19-year-old driver of the truck, and 18-year-old Katlynn Stone­ were taken by ambulance to a hospital.

Patrol officers along with paramedics from Palm Bay Fire-Rescue tended to the four injured people at the site.

An investigation is ongoing.

Florida Today Brevard County Daily 72,650

April 7, 2011

"Parrish man injured in crash"

MANATEE -- A 60-year-old Parrish man was listed in serious condition after a collision with a box truck at 4:16 p.m. Saturday. The man was at a stop sign in a 1995 four-door Chevrolet, looking to head southbound in the drive access of 9005 U.S. 301 approaching the intersection of Old Tampa Road, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. The truck driven by a Lakeland man was westbound on U.S. 301 when the Chevrolet driver entered the roadway, the report states. The Chevrolet’s front left struck the truck’s front right. The truck driver and his passenger were both uninjured. The Parrish man, who was not wearing a seatbelt, was taken to Bayfront Medical Center. No skidmarks were found at the scene and alcohol was not involved, troopers said. The Parrish man was cited with failure to yield right of way from a stop sign, the report adds. for more information please visit: http://www.bradenton.com/2011/03/26/3064649/parrish-man-injured-in-crash.html

"School bus hits SUV, two transported, no one on bus hurt"

SEBRING - The Florida Highway Patrol investigated a crash between a Highlands County school bus carrying more than 30 children and a Ford Explorer on Thursday afternoon. Two people in the Ford were transported to Florida Hospital Heartland, according to Lance Duvall, supervisor with the Highlands County Emergency Medical Services. "There was no mention of any injuries on the bus," he said. It was not known Friday to what extent the two were hurt. Nor have their names been released. The accident took place at about 3:39 p.m. at the intersection of Citroen Avenue and Grand Prix Drive, in Sebring, said Transportation Director David Solomon. "Our driver was cited for failure to make a proper stop," he said. Solomon said there were more than 30 children on the bus at the time, but he did not get the sheet with the exact count back from the Florida Highway Patrol. The driver has been driving for the district since 2005, he said. "We haven't completed our internal investigation yet," he said. "He will undergo further training. He feels real bad about it." for more information please visit: http://www2.highlandstoday.com/content/2011/mar/25/251651/LAINSIDO1-school-bus-hits-suv-two-transported-no-o/news/

"Two police officers injured in crash in Tampa"

TAMPA -- Two Tampa police officers were hospitalized following a traffic crash early Sunday morning. Police said officers Gary Saunders and Robert Partner were heading south on Tampa Street shortly before 1 a.m. in an unmarked white Ford Crowd Victoria. At the same time, Charles D. Barrett, 34, was heading west on Polk Street in a 1997 Ford Explorer, police said. The unmarked police vehicle struck the Explorer at the intersection, the report said. The officers were taken to Tampa General Hospital with injuries originally considered serious. They have since been upgraded to stable condition. Barrett suffered minor injuries that did not require medical treatment. Investigators are looking into the cause of the crash, and to determine whether there were any other contributing factors. for more information please visit: http://www.baynews9.com/article/news/2011/march/223841/Two-police-officers-injured-in-crash-in-Tampa

"Trucks collide; driver critically hurt"

A fiery collision of two trucks on Florida's Turnpike early Wednesday left one of the drivers in critical condition with third-degree burns over at least 50 percent of his body.
Marquis Adams, 28, of Miami Gardens was flown to St. Mary's Medical Center in West Palm Beach and later transferred to Jackson Memorial Hospital's burn unit in Miami, said Lt. Tim Frith, spokesman for the Florida Highway Patrol.
The second driver, John Massey, 61, of Orlando, was taken to Palm Beach Gardens Medical Center with minor injuries, Frith said.
The Florida Highway Patrol was treating the investigation as a traffic homicide "because of the severity of the injuries" of the burned driver, Frith said.
When rescue workers responded to the crash at 4:47 a.m., both trucks were engulfed in flames, according to Palm Beach County Fire-Rescue Capt. Don DeLucia.
Investigators determined that the accident occurred at the end of a work shift when Massey, driving a dump truck that trailed a sweeper that cleans debris off the roadway, merged with the sweeper onto the southbound lanes to head home.
Adams, driving a tractor-trailer, also was heading south in the right lane and crashed into the back of Massey's truck, Frith said. The dump truck's signal lights were on, he said.
"There was an inability of the semi driver to identify the slower-moving vehicles," Frith said. "The fire started in the engine compartment and spread through the load of the truck."
The sweeper driver said he didn't know exactly what happened. He said he heard a "big boom" and turned to see a fire.
DeLucia said that a caller reported to dispatchers that Adams jumped out of his truck with his legs on fire and Massey doused the flames with an extinguisher, but Frith could not confirm those details.
The blaze charred one trailer Adams was hauling and caused "heavy structural damage" to the road, Frith said.
Southbound lanes reopened around 4 p.m. after crews ripped out the damaged asphalt and replaced it. Northbound lanes reopened around9:30 a.m.
Charges are pending, Frith said.


for more information please visit: http://www.fireengineering.com/index/articles/Wire_News_Display.1385420880.html

"Bradenton man dies in S.R. 70 crash"

A 56-year-old Bradenton man died in a traffic accident Wednesday night.

According to the Florida Highway Patrol: At about 8:10 p.m., Frank James Constantino was eastbound on State Road 70. Neil Ordway, 81, of Sarasota, turned left onto S.R. 70 from 1st Street. Ordway's sport utility vehicle collided with Constantino's vehicle.
Constantino died at the scene.
Charges are pending. Investigators are asking anyone who witnessed the accident to call (941) 751-7647, ext. 131.


for more information please visit: http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20110317/BREAKING/110319565

"3 injured in 1-75 crash near Santa Fe bridge"

Three people were hospitalized following an early-morning crash on Interstate 75 near the Santa Fe River bridge in northern Alachua County. One person was critically injured and two others suffered serious injuries, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. The accident occurred around 1:15 a.m. Friday near mile marker 407. FHP Trooper Matthew Simmons said a south-bound 1995 Pontiac Grand Prix being driven by Timo-thy Wayne Atwell, 47, of Fort McCoy, hit the front of a 2003 Chrysler Town and Country van being driven north by Britteny Nicole Lungren, 19, of Leesburg. Simmons said that after the initial impact, the Pontiac was rotating and was hit in the back by the left side of a northbound 2006 Chevy Silverado. Atwell was taken to Shands at the University of Florida in critical condition. Lungren and her passen-ger, Lana Johnston, 19, of Michigan City, Ind., were taken to Shands in serious condition. The three people in the pickup were not injured and were all from out of the region, Simmons said. Everyone involved was wearing a seat belt, according to an FHP report on the crash, and charges are pending further investigation.

Gainesville Sun Alachua County Daily 57,000 March 5, 2011

"Tampa woman, 19, killed in rollover crash on I-75"

Russell Colleran, 19, was driving a Dodge Caliber north on I-75 shortly after 10 p.m, the report said. Five passengers were in the vehicle with him at the time.

The vehicle was about six miles south of State Road 50 when, for unknown reasons, he drove off the road and onto the grass shoulder, the report said.

The vehicle overturned several times, and Tessa Byers, 19, who was in the rear seat, was thrown from the vehicle and onto the shoulder, the report said.

Byers died from her injuries at the scene of the crash.

Colleran sustained serious injuries and was taken to Pasco Regional Medical Center for treatment.

The other four passengers, ranging in age from 20 to 22, sustained minor injuries.

The Florida Highway Patrol said Colleran and the other four passengers were wearing their seatbelts at the time of the crash. However, Byers was not, the report said.

Alcohol is not believed to be a factor in the crash.

For more information please visit: http://www.baynews9.com/article/news/2011/march/215282/Tampa-woman-19-killed-in-rollover-crash-on-I75

"Two people died as a result of a traffic crash Sunday night in Plant City"

According to the Florida Highway Patrol, the crash happened just before 10:30 p.m. when a Ford Escort crossed the center line and collided with a Toyota Corolla on State Road 60 near Highway 39.

Officials identified the victims as 23-year-old Saul Gregorio-Daniel, of Plant City and Shawn Quade, 34, of Brandon. Gregorio-Daniel was the passenger in the Ford while Quade was riding in the Toyota.

Both died at the scene of the crash.

Servando Gregorio, who was driving the Ford, remains in critical condition at Tampa General Hospital.

The driver of the Toyota, Sayeeda Quade, is in serious condition at Lakeland Regional Medical Center.

The crash remains under investigation.

For more information please visit: http://www.baynews9.com/article/news/2011/march/215456/Two-killed-in-Plant-City-traffic-crash

"1 airlifted in wreck"

BIG PINE KEY: One person was airlifted to Miami and another taken to the hospital after a motorcycle and car crashed about 7 p.m. Wednesday on Big Pine Key, the Sheriff's Office said.

Two people were on the motorcycle, but it was unclear from reports whom was injured. The airlifted person was taken to Ryder Trauma Center in Miami and the other to Fishermen's Hospital in Marathon, reports say.

Traffic was delayed for about an hour, according to the Sheriff's Office.

The Florida Highway Patrol was investigating.

For more information please visit: http://keysnews.com/node/30225

"Three cycling deaths in three weeks is three too many"

Three bicyclists have been killed during the past three weeks, all of them while pedaling on roads in our backyard.

Firefighter John Wilson was struck by an SUV in Jupiter on Feb. 7. He was 50 years old.

Two days later, cyclist Gary Zimmer was hit by a car while riding in a bike lane on the Jensen Beach Causeway. He was 67.

And last Friday morning, Nicholas Rybka, died after he was hit by an 83-year-old tour bus driver in Vero Beach. He was 21.

I wish I could say the deaths were an anomaly — but they are not. More people die on bikes in Florida than any other state in the country.

In 2009, 107 bicyclists died in traffic accidents in Florida, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's most recent data.

That's eight more deaths than California, which has double the population. Our state led the country in deaths in 2008, too,

"There's something seriously wrong in Florida," said John Goings, a Palm City resident and president of the Treasure Coast Cycling Association.

The main problem, he believes, is that motor-vehicle drivers aren't aware of the laws.

They don't know that state statutes require them to stay 3 feet away from cyclists when passing. They aren't aware that the law treats bicycles as vehicles that have a right to the road, too.

Goings logs about 150 miles a week on his bike. While he has never been hit by a car, he knows plenty of cyclists who have been.

John Mildenberger is among them. Road rash covered half of his face after a car struck him on the Stuart causeway in 2004.

"My bike was demolished under the car. Fortunately, I was launched over the hood," the 55-year-old told me. He was knocked unconscious, but avoided lasting injury.

Three years later, while biking in Port Salerno, he was hit again when a car turned into his path in the bike lane.

"My left hand took off their rear view mirror, and I went over the handlebars," said Mildenberger, a resident of Sewall's Point. He broke his collar bone that time.

And yet cyclists are demonized by some drivers.

"I've had people scream at me. The common one is, "Get off the road, get on the sidewalk!' " Mildenberger said.

A passerby once hurled a grapefruit at Goings' wife while she was on her bike. He's been given the "one finger salute" more than a few times himself.

Goings realizes it's difficult to enforce laws that protect cyclists, including the 3-foot rule. Unless police happen to witness a violation, it's difficult to prove.

Some cyclists have taken to wearing cameras on their helmets so they can document the most blatant of violations, Goings told me.

Mildenberger would like to see local law enforcement officers get more aggressive about enforcement. He would like more road signs urging drivers to watch for cyclists, too.

"Of course, we want all the bike lanes we can get — but we realize it costs money and takes time," said Mildenberger, who is a member of Martin County's Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee.

Not all cycling accidents are the fault of motor vehicle drivers. About half are the result of cyclists violating basic rules of the road, according to the Florida Bicycle Association.

But the other half? Those of us behind the wheel have a responsibility to prevent them.

For more information please visit: http://www.tcpalm.com/news/2011/feb/28/eve-samples-three-cycling-deaths-in-three-weeks/

Automobile collides with bus

An elderly man was killed Sunday morning in an automobile accident with a Greyhound bus in Citrus County.

The elderly man was driving his car at about 8:25a.m., traveling southeast on U.S. 98 near the

Sugarmill Woods area of Homosassa. At the intersection of U.S. 98 and Oak Park Boulevard,

the elderly man attempted to make a u turn, according to an accident report from Florida Highway Patrol.

The gentlemen driving a 1998 Ford Taurus, turned into the path of a 1998 MCI Greyhound bus driven by a 67-year-old male from Tallahassee.

The bus was traveling northwest on U.S. 98 in the outside lane. The front of the Greyhound t-boned the Ford Taurus. The bus continued a short distance on U.S. 98 pushing the Ford Taurus about 200 feet northwest of the area of impact.

The elderly gentlemen was air lifted to Tampa General Hospital, where he died from his injuries

a short time later.

Neither the bus driver nor the 13 passengers were reported injured in the automobile and bus accident

Damages were reported to be $5000 as total for the car and the bus.

Both drivers were reported to have been wearing seat belts. Tests for alcohol are pending for both drivers as the car and bus accident remains under investigation.