Monday, June 20, 2011
Motorcyclist hurt in wreck
NORTH PORT- A motorcyclist suffered serious head injuries after a Sunday wreck, authorities said. Shortly before midnight Sunday, Jamey Lee Peyton of the 8500 block of Amberjack Circle was thrown from a 2003 Yamaha while driving east on East Price Boulevard near Orlando Boulevard. North Port Police say neither alcohol nor speed were factors. Paramedics airlifted Peyton to Bayfront Medical Center in St. Petersburg.
Driver in rollover faces DUI charges
SARASOTA COUNTY
- A Bradenton man whose car rolled over when he drove off a ramp of Interstate 75 faces four
criminal charges, including driving under the influence. Sarasota County sheriffs deputies arrested Caleb B. Benson, 25, of the 4400 block of Sanibel Way in Bradenton on charges of DUI causing serious bodily injury and three other charges.
Shortly after 2:30 a.m. Sunday, Benson reportedly drove off the northbound ramp of I -75 at
Fruitville Road. Two of four passengers in Benson's vehicle were injured. The Sheriff’s Office reported that Benson, who was not injured, admitted to previously drinking alcohol at a bar.
- A Bradenton man whose car rolled over when he drove off a ramp of Interstate 75 faces four
criminal charges, including driving under the influence. Sarasota County sheriffs deputies arrested Caleb B. Benson, 25, of the 4400 block of Sanibel Way in Bradenton on charges of DUI causing serious bodily injury and three other charges.
Shortly after 2:30 a.m. Sunday, Benson reportedly drove off the northbound ramp of I -75 at
Fruitville Road. Two of four passengers in Benson's vehicle were injured. The Sheriff’s Office reported that Benson, who was not injured, admitted to previously drinking alcohol at a bar.
Autopsy shows youth had alcohol in system
CRASH KILLED FOUR: But experts say Sean Leonard was not legally impaired
By DALE WHITE
dale. white@heraldtribune.com
SARASOTA COUNTY - An autopsy report shows that the driver of an SUV that crashed in
March, killing him and three other teenagers, had alcohol and marijuana in his system at the
time of the wreck. Yet experts say the results do not indicate that Sean Leonard, 19, was legally impaired. About 5:30 a.m. on March 13, Leonard lost control of a Chevrolet TrailBlazer while driving eastbound on Wilkinson Road. The Florida Highway Patrol, which is still investigating the accident, determined that the SUV was traveling at 99 mph when Leonard failed to negotiate a curve.
The vehicle veered into an oncoming lane, jumped a curb and rolled into a concrete block wall
at Marcott Circle. Also killed were Leonard's three passengers: Andrew Monroe, 19; Kelly Janis, 15; and Leonard's sister, Jessica Leonard, 14.
Dr. Russell Vega, the medical examiner, and Dr. Wilson A. Broussard, who conducted the autopsies, were unavailable for comment Monday. Yet two independent pathologists agreed that the findings do not show that Leonard - whose alcohol level was .01 and .03 in separate tests - was legally intoxicated. Dr. Thomas W. Young, a former medical examiner in Missouri who is a forensic consultant in court cases, described Leonard's alcohol level as "very low" if it was at .01.
In Florida, a driver with a blood-alcohol level of .08 is considered intoxicated.
In Florida, where the legal drinking age is 21, state law is more strict for underage drivers.
According to the Florida Department of Motor Vehicles, any driver under 21 whose alcohol level is .02 or above faces a license suspension for six months. Separate tests show ''byproducts of smoking marijuana" in Leonard's blood, Young said. But the pathologist regarded the amounts of
THC, the hallucinogenic substance in marijuana, to be "not particularly meaningful" and inconclusive as to whether Leonard was high during the wreck. Marijuana byproducts can stay
in the body long after the drug was used, he said. Dr. Stephen Godfrey, also a pathologist and
court expert in Missouri, said Leonard's THC levels show "some cannabis use in the last 24 to 48 hours." Passenger Andrew Monroe,19, had a blood-alcohol level of .13; his liver also tested positive for traces of cannabis, the medical examiner's report stated. Rear-seat passenger Kelly Janis had a blood alcohol level of .05, but no traces of cannabis.
No alcohol or cannabis was found in tests of the other rear-seat passenger, Jessica Leonard.
The accident caused a wave of mourning across the region among young people and adults who
knew the four teenagers. The two girls both attended Sarasota Military Academy. Leonard and
Monroe graduated from Riverview High School in 2010. Monroe's family declined to comment Monday, noting that the FHP had previously said alcohol was not considered a factor in the crash. Calls to the Leonard and Janis homes were not returned.
Sarasota Herald Tribune
Sarasota County
May 24, 2011
By DALE WHITE
dale. white@heraldtribune.com
SARASOTA COUNTY - An autopsy report shows that the driver of an SUV that crashed in
March, killing him and three other teenagers, had alcohol and marijuana in his system at the
time of the wreck. Yet experts say the results do not indicate that Sean Leonard, 19, was legally impaired. About 5:30 a.m. on March 13, Leonard lost control of a Chevrolet TrailBlazer while driving eastbound on Wilkinson Road. The Florida Highway Patrol, which is still investigating the accident, determined that the SUV was traveling at 99 mph when Leonard failed to negotiate a curve.
The vehicle veered into an oncoming lane, jumped a curb and rolled into a concrete block wall
at Marcott Circle. Also killed were Leonard's three passengers: Andrew Monroe, 19; Kelly Janis, 15; and Leonard's sister, Jessica Leonard, 14.
Dr. Russell Vega, the medical examiner, and Dr. Wilson A. Broussard, who conducted the autopsies, were unavailable for comment Monday. Yet two independent pathologists agreed that the findings do not show that Leonard - whose alcohol level was .01 and .03 in separate tests - was legally intoxicated. Dr. Thomas W. Young, a former medical examiner in Missouri who is a forensic consultant in court cases, described Leonard's alcohol level as "very low" if it was at .01.
In Florida, a driver with a blood-alcohol level of .08 is considered intoxicated.
In Florida, where the legal drinking age is 21, state law is more strict for underage drivers.
According to the Florida Department of Motor Vehicles, any driver under 21 whose alcohol level is .02 or above faces a license suspension for six months. Separate tests show ''byproducts of smoking marijuana" in Leonard's blood, Young said. But the pathologist regarded the amounts of
THC, the hallucinogenic substance in marijuana, to be "not particularly meaningful" and inconclusive as to whether Leonard was high during the wreck. Marijuana byproducts can stay
in the body long after the drug was used, he said. Dr. Stephen Godfrey, also a pathologist and
court expert in Missouri, said Leonard's THC levels show "some cannabis use in the last 24 to 48 hours." Passenger Andrew Monroe,19, had a blood-alcohol level of .13; his liver also tested positive for traces of cannabis, the medical examiner's report stated. Rear-seat passenger Kelly Janis had a blood alcohol level of .05, but no traces of cannabis.
No alcohol or cannabis was found in tests of the other rear-seat passenger, Jessica Leonard.
The accident caused a wave of mourning across the region among young people and adults who
knew the four teenagers. The two girls both attended Sarasota Military Academy. Leonard and
Monroe graduated from Riverview High School in 2010. Monroe's family declined to comment Monday, noting that the FHP had previously said alcohol was not considered a factor in the crash. Calls to the Leonard and Janis homes were not returned.
Sarasota Herald Tribune
Sarasota County
May 24, 2011
Motorcyclist killed was Lehigh man
FORT MYERS
Fort Myers police have identified the man killed in a motorcycle crash Sunday morning as Rafael Vaca Vazquez, 25, of Lehigh Acres.
The crash occurred at 1:32 a.m. at the intersection of Jackson Street and Dora Street Police said VacaVazquez was not wearing a helmet when he was thrown from the motorcycle.
No other vehicles are believed to have been involved in the crash, which is under investigation.
Ft Myers News Press
Lee County
May 24, 2011
Fort Myers police have identified the man killed in a motorcycle crash Sunday morning as Rafael Vaca Vazquez, 25, of Lehigh Acres.
The crash occurred at 1:32 a.m. at the intersection of Jackson Street and Dora Street Police said VacaVazquez was not wearing a helmet when he was thrown from the motorcycle.
No other vehicles are believed to have been involved in the crash, which is under investigation.
Ft Myers News Press
Lee County
May 24, 2011
Man, 76, dies after crash of motorcycle
A 76-year-old Jacksonville man died at Florida Hospital Flagler after crashing his new trike on Interstate 95, the Florida Highway Patrol said Friday. John R. Tucker Jr. was traveling
north on the interstate north of the Palm Coast Parkway exit on his three-wheeled motorcycle
Tuesday when he tried to pass a tractor-trailer and lost control, an FHP report states. He side-swiped the guardrail and was ejected over it. Tucker was transported to the hospital and later pronounced dead.
A friend told troopers that Tucker had just purchased the trike and was not familiar with
that style of motorcycle.
Daytona Beach
News Journal
Volusia County
May 21, 2011
north on the interstate north of the Palm Coast Parkway exit on his three-wheeled motorcycle
Tuesday when he tried to pass a tractor-trailer and lost control, an FHP report states. He side-swiped the guardrail and was ejected over it. Tucker was transported to the hospital and later pronounced dead.
A friend told troopers that Tucker had just purchased the trike and was not familiar with
that style of motorcycle.
Daytona Beach
News Journal
Volusia County
May 21, 2011
Biker dies after crashing into mailbox
A 29-year-old Port Orange man speeding through a residential neighborhood to work just after
7 a.m. Tuesday was killed after he lost control of his motorcycle and crashed into a mailbox,
South Daytona police said. Stephen Picard was heading north on Anastasia Drive at an
estimated 60 mph when he lost control of his 2005 Suzuki sport bike at Sherman Road, police
said. The speed limit on Anastasia is 25 mph.
After Picard struck the mailbox at a residence, he and the bike tumbled and flipped, landing
in the driveway of another house, said Sgt. Denny Pierson. "He was wearing a helmet, but
he was killed right there," Pierson said.
The impact knocked Picard's helmet off, police said.
Daytona Beach
News Journal
Volusia Cournty
May 25, 2011
7 a.m. Tuesday was killed after he lost control of his motorcycle and crashed into a mailbox,
South Daytona police said. Stephen Picard was heading north on Anastasia Drive at an
estimated 60 mph when he lost control of his 2005 Suzuki sport bike at Sherman Road, police
said. The speed limit on Anastasia is 25 mph.
After Picard struck the mailbox at a residence, he and the bike tumbled and flipped, landing
in the driveway of another house, said Sgt. Denny Pierson. "He was wearing a helmet, but
he was killed right there," Pierson said.
The impact knocked Picard's helmet off, police said.
Daytona Beach
News Journal
Volusia Cournty
May 25, 2011
Collision kills biker on Curry Ford Road
ORANGE COUNTY
Collision kills biker on Curry Ford Road
A motorcyclist died Monday night after crashing into another vehicle on Curry Ford Road, the Florida Highway Patrol said. Giovanni Ocasio, 33, of Orlando, was riding a 2004 Yamaha motorcycle east about 10:02 p.m. when he struck another vehicle that was trying to cross the
eastbound lanes. Ocasio and his bike came to rest just east of the intersection with Andover Cay
Boulevard. He died at the scene. Cynthia Walker, 53, of Orlando, was driving the 2010 Hyundai SUV hit by Ocasio. She and her passenger, 74-year-old Carmen Walker of Maryville, Tenn., were not hurt, the FHP said. The crash was under investigation Tuesday.
Anika Myers Palm
Orlando Sentinel
Orange County
May 20, 2011
Collision kills biker on Curry Ford Road
A motorcyclist died Monday night after crashing into another vehicle on Curry Ford Road, the Florida Highway Patrol said. Giovanni Ocasio, 33, of Orlando, was riding a 2004 Yamaha motorcycle east about 10:02 p.m. when he struck another vehicle that was trying to cross the
eastbound lanes. Ocasio and his bike came to rest just east of the intersection with Andover Cay
Boulevard. He died at the scene. Cynthia Walker, 53, of Orlando, was driving the 2010 Hyundai SUV hit by Ocasio. She and her passenger, 74-year-old Carmen Walker of Maryville, Tenn., were not hurt, the FHP said. The crash was under investigation Tuesday.
Anika Myers Palm
Orlando Sentinel
Orange County
May 20, 2011
Crash fatal to driver hit leaving Walmart
ORANGE COUNTY
A driver leaving a Walmart was hit by a sport-utility vehicle early Thursday and died at a hospital, the Florida Highway Patrol said. Marie Pierre Canel 26, of Orlando, was turning left to leave the store at 8990 Turkey Lake Road and drove her 2001 Pontiac Sunfire into the path of
a 2002 Chevrolet Suburban driven by Kirsten West, 37, of Ocoee, investigators said Canel died later at Orlando Regional Medical Center, troopers said. West was taken to ORMC in serious condition.
- Susan Jacobson
Orlando Sentinel
Orange County
May 21, 2011
A driver leaving a Walmart was hit by a sport-utility vehicle early Thursday and died at a hospital, the Florida Highway Patrol said. Marie Pierre Canel 26, of Orlando, was turning left to leave the store at 8990 Turkey Lake Road and drove her 2001 Pontiac Sunfire into the path of
a 2002 Chevrolet Suburban driven by Kirsten West, 37, of Ocoee, investigators said Canel died later at Orlando Regional Medical Center, troopers said. West was taken to ORMC in serious condition.
- Susan Jacobson
Orlando Sentinel
Orange County
May 21, 2011
3 dead in head-on crash of truck, car
ORANGE COUNTY
Three men died early Friday when a 1989 Chevrolet pickup truck crashed head-on into a 2001 Toyota Corolla on Orange Blossom Trail in Apopka. The man driving the wrong-way truck just before 1 a.m. was dead at the scene near Sprint Boulevard. As of Friday night the Florida Highway Patrol had not been able to identify him. The driver of the Toyota, Charles Richard Diaz III, 21, and his passenger, Daniel Francis Morgan, 21, both of
Apopka, also died at the scene.
- Anika Myers Palm
Three men died early Friday when a 1989 Chevrolet pickup truck crashed head-on into a 2001 Toyota Corolla on Orange Blossom Trail in Apopka. The man driving the wrong-way truck just before 1 a.m. was dead at the scene near Sprint Boulevard. As of Friday night the Florida Highway Patrol had not been able to identify him. The driver of the Toyota, Charles Richard Diaz III, 21, and his passenger, Daniel Francis Morgan, 21, both of
Apopka, also died at the scene.
- Anika Myers Palm
Crash leaves one in serious condition:
MADISON
A 48-year-old woman is in serious condition after a crash in Madison County on Sunday. According to the Florida Highway Patrol, Michael Browning, 47, was traveling west on State Road 14 in a 2007 Chevrolet pickup in Madison County around 11 a.m. when he turned left in front of Randy Wyatt, 52, and his 2008 Toyota four-door. Ann-Marie Wyatt, 48, a passenger in the Toyota, was taken to Madison Hospital with serious injuries. The two drivers were not injured. All three were from Madison. Madison County Deputy David Myers and Madison County EMS assisted.
Democrat staff reports
Tallahassee Democrat
Leon County
May 18, 2011
A 48-year-old woman is in serious condition after a crash in Madison County on Sunday. According to the Florida Highway Patrol, Michael Browning, 47, was traveling west on State Road 14 in a 2007 Chevrolet pickup in Madison County around 11 a.m. when he turned left in front of Randy Wyatt, 52, and his 2008 Toyota four-door. Ann-Marie Wyatt, 48, a passenger in the Toyota, was taken to Madison Hospital with serious injuries. The two drivers were not injured. All three were from Madison. Madison County Deputy David Myers and Madison County EMS assisted.
Democrat staff reports
Tallahassee Democrat
Leon County
May 18, 2011
Minivan, SUV collide; four sent to hospital
MlAMl
An elderly man was seriously hurt when an accident threw him from his minivan on Sunday
afternoon, according to a spokesman for Miami Fire-Rescue. The man, who is in his 70s, was taken to Ryder Trauma Center, and three other adults were taken to hospitals with minor injuries. The victims' names were not released. The two-car accident happened just after 1 p.m. Sunday at Northwest 12th Avenue and 71st Street, said Lt. Ignatius Carroll. An SUV collided with the minivan, sending it skidding through a fence and onto a sports field at Miami Northwestern Senior High School.
Two children, ages 5 and 7, in the SUV were unhurt, Carroll said, because they were in car
seats. "We were surprised to see kids that age in car seats, but as a result they were able to walk
away from that accident without a scratch,'' he said.
Ariel Barkhurst
Sun Sentinel
Broward County
May 30, 2011
An elderly man was seriously hurt when an accident threw him from his minivan on Sunday
afternoon, according to a spokesman for Miami Fire-Rescue. The man, who is in his 70s, was taken to Ryder Trauma Center, and three other adults were taken to hospitals with minor injuries. The victims' names were not released. The two-car accident happened just after 1 p.m. Sunday at Northwest 12th Avenue and 71st Street, said Lt. Ignatius Carroll. An SUV collided with the minivan, sending it skidding through a fence and onto a sports field at Miami Northwestern Senior High School.
Two children, ages 5 and 7, in the SUV were unhurt, Carroll said, because they were in car
seats. "We were surprised to see kids that age in car seats, but as a result they were able to walk
away from that accident without a scratch,'' he said.
Ariel Barkhurst
Sun Sentinel
Broward County
May 30, 2011
Two in hospital after Friday crash
PUTNAM COUNTY-
Two Ocala residents were transported to a Putnam hospital on Friday night after the vehicle they were traveling in struck a utility pole, causing the pole to fall and temporarily knocking out electricity in the area, Florida Highway Patrol troopers say. FHP officials in Putnam County said Sheena Bowermaster, 24, and Christopher Isherwood, 29, were in a 2003 Jeep Liberty when Bowermaster, who was the driver, lost control of the vehicle and it drove onto the west grass shoulder. Bowermaster then overcorrected, authorities said, by steering sharply to the left, and the vehicle slid sideways on the shoulder and the rear struck a power pole, causing the upper portion to snap and fall onto the roadway. Power to portions of the Interlachen area was
disconnected, and Florida Power and Light officials were called to replace the pole and restore power to the area. The roadway was closed due to a power line lying in the roadway.
The accident occurred on County Road 315, just north of 64th Street in Interlachen. Both occupants, who were wearing their seat belts at the time of the crash, were transported
to Putnam Community Hospital with minor injuries.
Ocala Star Banner
Marion County
June 2, 2011
Two Ocala residents were transported to a Putnam hospital on Friday night after the vehicle they were traveling in struck a utility pole, causing the pole to fall and temporarily knocking out electricity in the area, Florida Highway Patrol troopers say. FHP officials in Putnam County said Sheena Bowermaster, 24, and Christopher Isherwood, 29, were in a 2003 Jeep Liberty when Bowermaster, who was the driver, lost control of the vehicle and it drove onto the west grass shoulder. Bowermaster then overcorrected, authorities said, by steering sharply to the left, and the vehicle slid sideways on the shoulder and the rear struck a power pole, causing the upper portion to snap and fall onto the roadway. Power to portions of the Interlachen area was
disconnected, and Florida Power and Light officials were called to replace the pole and restore power to the area. The roadway was closed due to a power line lying in the roadway.
The accident occurred on County Road 315, just north of 64th Street in Interlachen. Both occupants, who were wearing their seat belts at the time of the crash, were transported
to Putnam Community Hospital with minor injuries.
Ocala Star Banner
Marion County
June 2, 2011
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