Teen on bike survives crash with pickup

The truck's driver failed sobriety tests, according to the highway patrol. The teen was on his way to school.

By RICHARD DANIELSON, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times
published September 19, 2002

PALM HARBOR -- Eighth-grader Rashard Hull was riding his bike to Palm Harbor Middle School when he was hit by a drunken motorist at 9 a.m. Tuesday, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

Rashard, a 13-year-old with a shelf full of softball trophies in the bedroom of his family's Harbor Lakes home, was dragged about 20 feet, suffered a broken right ankle and bad scrapes to his palms and forehead, according to his family.

The collision with John Joseph Montour's 1988 Ford pickup truck also sheared bolts off Rashard's bike, but somehow left his glasses intact, said his brother, Anttwon Flowers, 25, of Daytona Beach.

The accident took place at Tampa Road and Winding Willow Drive at the entrance to Harbor Lakes. Rashard was rushed to Bayfront Medical Center in St. Petersburg, where he was in fair condition Wednesday evening.

"The man said he was sorry, and (Rashard) told the man, 'God bless you,' " Flowers said.

Troopers charged Montour, 44, of 30700 U.S. 19 N, No. 101, with DUI resulting in serious injury. An arrest report said Montour, who is self-employed, failed roadside sobriety tests and had a blood alcohol level of 0.186 percent -- more than twice the level at which Florida law presumes a motorist to be impaired. He also was cited for violating the right of way.

Montour was released from the Pinellas County Jail Tuesday night on $10,000 bail. He could not be reached for comment Wednesday.

On Wednesday, classmates at Palm Harbor Middle signed a large get well card for Rashard, who will probably need plastic surgery and skin grafts as he heals, Flowers said.

"When I heard about the accident I was so worried," one classmate wrote to Rashard. "My bus drove by as you were on the ground. I looked over and saw you and turned around cause seeing you like that made me sad."

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