An accident at Deadman's Curve has neighbors again calling for tighter speed enforcement.
By RICHARD DANIELSON and NORA KOCH
Published April 10, 2004
PALM HARBOR - A collision near the trouble-prone stretch of Tampa Road known as Deadman's Curve sent one woman to the hospital and tied up Friday afternoon rush-hour traffic.
It also led beleaguered residents along Tampa Road to renew their calls for stepped-up enforcement of the road's 45 mph speed limit, more traffic signals or both.
"I just want something" done, said Carol Sanders, whose son-in-law, Tony Iuele, was struck by four cars and killed last month as he tried to cross Tampa Road. "Maybe this will be a trigger."
Kim Ridgeway, who keeps track of the accidents on Deadman's Curve, videotaped the wreckage Friday at the corner of Tampa Road and Strathmore Gate East Drive.
"They need to enforce the speed (limit) out here before somebody else gets killed," Ridgeway said. "People are flying down this road."
Friday's accident took place about 4 p.m. after 78-year-old Ileen A. Luce of Palm Harbor turned her Kia Sportage left in front of an oncoming Lexus, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
The driver of the Lexus, 17-year-old Anthony Astrab of Tarpon Springs, said he was heading west on Tampa Road when the accident happened.
"Either she didn't see me or lost perspective and she went across," said Astrab, a senior at Jesuit High School. "I didn't know what to do so I slammed on the brakes."
The collision deployed air bags in both vehicles and flipped the Kia onto its roof. Luce, who faced a citation for turning left in front of oncoming traffic, suffered non-life-threatening injuries and was taken to St. Joseph's Hospital in Tampa, according to the Highway Patrol. Her condition was not available Friday evening. Astrab said he was shaken up by the accident.
Residents point to wrecks that have killed three men this year, plus more nonfatal accidents, as evidence that Tampa Road needs attention.
On Feb. 27, Kyle James Tiernan, 25, of Holiday and Johnathon Blackwell-Schuberth, 24, of Oldsmar died when they lost control and were ejected from their vehicle, landing in a ditch a few feet from the entrance to Country Place apartment complex.
On March 13, Iuele, 50, was killed while crossing the street. He was struck by one vehicle and then subsequently hit by three more. Only one driver stopped.
Nearly a month after Iuele's death, the Florida Highway Patrol is still searching for the drivers, said Trooper Larry Coggins Jr. Investigators followed up on dozens of tips, but none have panned out. After analyzing paint chips found on Iuele's body, they put alerts out to local auto parts stores and body shops, but so far no one has come forth.
Anyone with information regarding the three vehicles involved in the accident that killed Iuele is urged to call the Florida Highway Patrol at 1-888-632-6859, ext. 323.
"We know somebody out there knows something," Coggins said. "Please come forward and do the right thing."
