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© St. Petersburg Times, published May 16, 2002
Teen dies of injuries from March accident
A 16-year-old Port Richey boy died Tuesday, nearly two months after he was struck by a vehicle while crossing U.S. 19.
David R. McConaghy, a junior at New Port Richey Marine Institute, was hit late in the evening March 23 near Fox Hollow Drive, Florida Highway Patrol troopers said. He was wearing dark clothes, and the driver didn't see him.
McConaghy died at Helen Ellis Memorial Hospital in Tarpon Springs.
HOLIDAY -- A 16-year-old Mitchell High School student was arrested Tuesday and charged in the rape last year of a 14-year-old girl, Pasco County sheriff's deputies said.
Adam George Cessford of 4621 Tropical Lane, Holiday, faces a charge of sexual battery, deputies said.
According to a deputy report, the 6-foot-1, 220-pound Cessford held down the girl while he had sex with her Nov. 14. Cessford said they had consensual sex, the report states.
Deputies did not provide information about where the incident occurred.
NEW PORT RICHEY -- A homeowner got into a fight Monday with a man installing his carpet, punched and kicked the man and broke two vertebrae in the man's neck, Pasco County sheriff's deputies said.
Derek Mercado, 26, of 6211 Halifax Drive in New Port Richey was arrested Tuesday and faces a charge of felony battery, deputies said.
According to a deputy report, Mercado accused a Progressive Floors carpet installer of stealing $200. The installer, 22-year-old Bobby Dale Burnett, said he didn't steal any money and had Mercado search him. Burnett told deputies that Mercado then punched him, the report states.
On Tuesday morning, Burnett said he woke up in severe pain, went to North Bay Hospital and called deputies.
Mercado posted $5,000 bond Wednesday and was released from county jail in Land O'Lakes.
NEW PORT RICHEY -- A 12-year-old Bayonet Point Middle School student was arrested after officials said he brought a knife on the bus and into school Monday, according to Pasco County sheriff's deputies.
The boy, who is not being named by the Times because of his age, was arrested Tuesday and faces a charge of possession of a weapon on school grounds.
Deputies said he showed the knife to friends at school. They said it was a pen that had a knife blade on one end.
The boy was taken to the county juvenile assessment center, deputies said.