Woman dies from dump truck crash

DADE CITY -- One of the passengers in a car involved in a traffic accident Wednesday with two dump trucks died early Friday morning from her injuries.

Winnifred Simons, 82, of 10926 Prairie Drive in Dade City, was being treated at Tampa General Hospital for internal injuries from the accident. Doctors tried to repair the damage but were unable to keep her blood pressure stable during surgery, Simons' daughter Joan Fisher said.

"She just didn't make it," Fisher said.

A Florida Highway Patrol report from the accident stated Simons was taken to St. Joseph's Hospital in Tampa, where a nursing supervisor Wednesday evening said Simons had been discharged. In fact, Simons had been transferred for treatment at Tampa General Hospital.

She died at 2:25 a.m. Friday, Tampa General Hospital spokeswoman Ellen Fiss said.

Simons was a passenger in a tan Buick sedan driven by Eleanora Meeker, 79, of 10936 Tumbleweed Drive in Dade City. Meeker is in fair condition at St. Joseph's Hospital.

Meeker pulled out from Clinton Avenue to turn south on Prospect Road but ended up in the path of a northbound dump truck. The dump truck plowed into Meeker's car, sending the sedan off the road.

The dump truck then veered across the two-lane road and collided head-on with another dump truck, creating a fiery blast.

Both dump truck drivers -- Jeffery Tokotch, 34, of 17740 Akins Drive in Spring Hill and Dennis D. Schoelzel, 57, of 5400 Hill Drive in Zephyrhills -- were treated in Tampa hospitals and released.

Another one of Meeker's passengers, Ester Raisaner, 78, was treated and released.

Meeker was cited by the Florida Highway Patrol with failure to yield and making a left turn in front of approaching traffic.

© 2006 • All Rights Reserved • Tampa Bay Times
490 First Avenue South • St. Petersburg, FL 33701 • 727-893-8111

Contact the Times | Privacy Policy
Standard of Accuracy | Terms, Conditions & Copyright