St. Petersburg police officer, driver seriously hurt in traffic crash

ST. PETERSBURG -- A St. Petersburg police officer and another driver were seriously injured in a traffic crash Monday. The crash happened at the intersection of 22nd Avenue North and 22nd Street N. in St. Petersburg just after 1:30 p.m. Monday. According to police, Officer Meri Andrews was traveling westbound on 22nd Avenue North while Marguerite Clare, 90, was driving a Lexus SUV eastbound on the same road. Clare made a northbound turn onto 22nd Street, and in the process, crossed into the path of the officer's car, police said. The front end of the officer's cruiser crashed into the right side of the Lexus SUV, police said. The cruiser spun and stopped in the curb lane just west of 22nd Street N, while the Lexus crashed into a chain link fence and several granite slabs at Depot Granite, which is located at the northwest corner of the intersection, police said. Both Clare and Andrews were taken to Bayfront Medical Center in serious condition for more information please visit: http://www.baynews9.com/article/news/2011/march/224297/St-Petersburg-police-officer-driver-seriously-hurt-in-traffic-crash

Woman seriously injured after being hit by car in St. Petersburg

ST. PETERSBURG -- A woman was struck by a vehicle Wednesday morning in St. Petersburg. According to the st. Petersburg Police Department, the woman was hit at 19th Avenue South and Dr. M.L. King, Jr. Street just after 6:30 a.m. gray KIA four-door sedan. The pedestrian was taken Bayfront Medical Center with life-threatening injuries. The driver of the KIA was uninjured. The investigation is ongoing and officials said more details would be made available later in the day. for more information please visit: http://www.baynews9.com/article/news/2011/march/225168/Woman-seriously-injured-after-being-hit-by-car-in-St.-Petersburg

"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

"Two motorcyclists injured in fatal crash identified"

Police on Thursday identified two motorcyclists who were injured in an accident that killed a man late Tuesday night. Robert Moore, 38, and Nicole Moore, 41, both of Holiday, were airlifted to Bayfront Medical Center in St. Petersburg after the accident that happened around 11:15 p.m. on U.S. 19 near Tookes Road. On Thursday evening, Robert Moore was in serious condition and Nicole Moore was listed as stable, according to a hospital spokesman. James Perrini, 68, of New Port Richey died at the scene. Richard Warth, 50, of Dunedin suffered minor injuries and was treated at the scene. According to Tarpon Springs police, the four motorcyclists were riding northbound together on U.S. 19 when Perrini hit the back of Warth's 2004 Harley-Davidson, which caused the Moores to lose control. They were ejected from their motorcycle. None of the motorcyclists were wearing helmets. Friends of Perrini's said the group was returning to Pasco County from a birthday celebration for a friend in Palm Harbor. An investigation is ongoing. Police said alcohol may have been a factor.


for more information please visit: http://www.tampabay.com/news/two-motorcyclists-injured-in-fatal-crash-identified/1158011

"One dead after motorcyclists collide on U.S. 19"

TARPON SPRINGS — If you ask anyone in the local cadre of motorcyclists in New Port Richey, they'd tell you James Perrini was one of their brothers.
"He'd take the shirt off his back if you needed it," said friend and colleague Andrew Mackay.
Perrini, owner of Chickies Pub and a member of the Suncoast Brotherhood Biker Rights Group, was killed in a motorcycle accident in Tarpon Springs late Tuesday night.
According to friends, the 68-year-old motorcyclist was returning from a friend's birthday celebration at Stix Billiards in Palm Harbor with three other motorcyclists, who also were injured in the crash.
Perrini was pronounced dead at the scene, police said.
Police are not releasing the names of the injured due to an ongoing investigation. Authorities suspect that the accident may be alcohol-related.
A 38-year-old man and 41-year-old woman, riding a 2004 Harley-Davidson, were critically injured and taken by helicopter to Bayfront Medical Center in St. Petersburg.
On Wednesday afternoon the man was in critical condition and the woman in serious condition.
An unidentified 50-year-old man from Dunedin, also riding a 2004 Harley-Davidson, suffered minor injuries and was treated at the scene.
Police said the crash happened about 11:17 p.m. Tuesday in the northbound lanes of U.S. 19 near Tookes Road in Tarpon Springs. Perrini struck the rear of the motorcycle operated by the man from Dunedin. The crash then caused the operator of the third motorcycle to lose control and both occupants were thrown off the bike.
None of the motorcyclists were wearing helmets.
Megan Walling, a bartender at Chickies who has known Perrini for seven years, said that besides his dedication to the biker community, he loved to help children.
Mackay echoed her thoughts.
"Toy runs, benefits, you name it," he said. "Every week."
Perrini would often host charity events at Chickies. Most recently, he hosted a fundraiser for Horse Connections, a therapeutic horsemanship program for people with disabilities.
Mackay said the mood at the bar was somber Wednesday.
"He's one missed man," he said.


for more information please visit: http://www.tampabay.com/news/publicsafety/accidents/one-dead-after-motorcyclists-collide-on-us-19/1157636

"Bicyclist airlifted after accident"

MANATEE - A 31-yearold man was airlifted to Bayfront Medical Center in St. Petersburg with life-threatening injuries after his bicycle collided with a car Saturday afternoon, the Florida Highway Patrol reports. The accident occurred at about 4:45 p.m. in the 2500 block of Cortez Road when the bicyclist was weaving in and out of stopped cars in the westbound lane, according to FHP. As he made it to the left turn lane, a car struck his front wheel, according to trooper Ken Piegari. The victim was not wearing a helmet and no charges have been filed.


Bradenton Herald
Manatee County
Daily 48,600
March 13, 2011

"One person killed in overnight motorcycle crash"

TARPON SPRINGS --

One person died in a late-night crash involving three motorcycles in Tarpon Springs.

According to officials, the crash happened on U.S. Highway 19 at Tookes Road. Two people were flown to Bayfront Medical Center. Their conditions are unknown.

Officers shut down a portion of the roadway while they investigated the crash.

Investigators have not released details of the crash.

for more information please visit: http://www.baynews9.com/article/news/2011/march/219321/One-person-killed-in-overnight-motorcycle-crash

"Bicyclist hit, killed by car in Palm Harbor"

PALM HARBOR --

A bicyclist was hit by a car and killed in Palm Harbor Wednesday night.

The bicyclist's wife was also injured and transported to Bayfront Medical Center.

The accident happened at U.S. 19 and Orange Street about 9:15 p.m.

Their identities have not been released.

The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating.

for more information please visit: http://www.baynews9.com/article/news/2011/march/219676/Bicyclist-hit-killed-by-car-in-Palm-Harbor

"Cyclist dies two days after being hit by van"

ST. PETERSBURG --

A 48-year-old man died Saturday, two days after he was hit by a van while riding his bicycle along Gandy Boulevard in Pinellas County.

Roger Soloman was pronounced dead on Saturday at Bayfront Medical Center. He had been admitted to the hospital following an accident on Thursday.

Accordig to reports, Soloman and Phillip R. Billups, 49, were riding their bikes eastbound along the south side of Gandy Boulevard N shortly before 10 a.m. The men went under the I-275 overpass, then Billups turned and began riding across the eastbound lanes.

Soloman also began crossing the eastbound lanes, but then he made a left turn in front of a eastbound Chevrolet van driven by Christopher Foran, 39, the report said.

Foran hit the brakes and tried to miss Soloman, but was instead rear-ended by a Toyota driven by Vasil Dimitrov, 28, the report said.

Soloman was hit by the van and thrown from his bicycle. Billups, who had retreated to the median, was hit by the Toyota.

Billups was treated at the scene and released.

Neither driver was injured, and no charges have been announced.

For more information please visit: http://www.baynews9.com/article/news/2011/march/216020/Cyclist-dies-two-days-after-being-hit-by-van

"Pedestrian struck, seriously injured on East Bay Drive"

LARGO — A pedestrian was struck by a vehicle and seriously injured Wednesday night on East Bay Drive, authorities said.

The accident occurred just after 10 p.m. near Lions Club Road, according to police officials. The pedestrian, who was not immediately identified, was taken to Bayfront Medical Center as a trauma alert patient, authorities said. Largo police are investigating.

For more information please visit: http://www.tampabay.com/news/publicsafety/accidents/pedestrian-struck-seriously-injured-on-east-bay-drive/1154959