Tampa Bay briefs

By Times staff writer
© St. Petersburg Times
published August 21, 2002

Passenger killed in wreck near parkway identified

TAMPA -- Tampa police have identified the man who died Monday afternoon in a crash near the Courtney Campbell Parkway.

Margarito Castrejon, 39, of 3415 W Nassau St. in Tampa, was a passenger in a Nissan that struck a pickup truck at the south exit ramp of Eisenhower Boulevard near the entrance to the parkway.

The driver of the Nissan, Jose Tomas-Garcia, 42, of 2509 W Union St., Tampa, is in critical condition at St. Joseph's Hospital.

The crash is still under investigation.

Suspect held in hatchet attack on a neighbor

TAMPA -- Hillsborough County sheriff's deputies arrested a Tampa man on a charge of attempted first-degree murder after they say he attacked a neighbor with a hatchet.

According to authorities, Dennis Morell, 22, went across the street to his neighbor's house in the 3000 block of Gordon Court about 2:30 p.m. Monday.

He carried a hatchet and chased the victim as she ran to her bathroom to get away, investigators say. He pushed his way into the bathroom and struck the woman four times, according to reports. A person in the house wrestled the weapon away and Morell ran back to his house, officials said.

Deputies removed Morell from his house after he refused to surrender. He was jailed on charges of attempted first-degree murder and armed burglary.

The victim was released from the emergency room of Tampa General Hospital late Monday, a hospital spokeswoman said.

Man burned in home is in serious condition

TAMPA -- A Town 'N Country man was severely burned early Tuesday after fire broke out in his home.

Joe Woodruff, 40, was in serious condition at Tampa General Hospital, said Hillsborough County Fire Rescue spokesman Ray Yeakley.

Yeakley said firefighters were called to the home in the 6000 block of Theresa Street at 6:04 a.m.

When they arrived, they found Woodruff inside the pool, trying to ease the pain from burns from the blaze.

He suffered second- and third-degree burns over 65 percent of his body, Yeakley said. Some of the more severe injuries were to his feet and legs.

Woodruff was the only one home at the time the fire broke out. It appears to have started in his bedroom, where he was sleeping, Yeakley said.

Damage to the house was estimated about $60,000. The cause is still being investigated, although it does not appear suspicious, Yeakley said.

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