Authorities believe a third, unidentified car sped away from the scene of the accident which left 18-year-old Tommy Rodriguez on life support.
By NICK COLLINS
Published October 23, 2004
PALM HARBOR - Investigators have found tire marks of a third car near the scene of an accident on Belcher Road, leading them to believe street racing was involved in the crash Monday that left a teenager in a coma, authorities said Friday.
The marks discovered near the intersection of Belcher and Beacon Point Road were "indicative of high speeds," said Trooper Larry Coggins, a spokesman for the Florida Highway Patrol.
Tommy Rodriguez, 18, has not regained consciousness since a speeding Trans Am hit the driver's side of a Toyota Camry he was driving. Rodriguez was pulling away from a stop sign at Beacon Point on the east side of Belcher Road. He has suffered severe brain damage, his parents said.
Thomas W. Straub, 17, was driving the Trans Am authorities believe was racing the unidentified third driver. Straub, a junior at Palm Harbor University High School, was going faster than the posted speed limit of 45 mph. Authorities have declined to say how much faster.
Investigators found tire marks that did not belong to either of the two vehicles involved in the crash. The marks indicated the third car left the scene "very abruptly," Coggins said.
The marks also suggest "some sort of activity that would leave us to believe a race was going on," Coggins said.
The new evidence matches anonymous tips the Highway Patrol has received that a third car was involved in a race, Coggins said.
Authorities have not received a description of the third car or details about its driver. The Highway Patrol has set up a file with Crime Stoppers of Pinellas County to help gather leads.
No charges had been filed in connection with the accident as of late Friday.
Both drivers were airlifted to Bayfront Medical Center in St. Petersburg following the accident Monday night, where they since have remained. On Friday, Rodriguez was listed in critical condition, and Straub was in stable condition.
A young woman who answered the door Tuesday at Straub's house said no one would talk to a reporter. The family has not returned phone calls.
A prompt on their answering machine said that, as of Friday, "If you're calling to check on Tommy, he continues to be in a great deal of pain, and the doctors decided early today (Friday) to reopen his incisions and look for any foreign debris that may have been missed during surgery on Monday night. Please keep Tommy in your prayers."
Rescuers said Straub suffered a leg injury in the accident.
Both drivers' cars were totaled in the collision. The vehicles were taken to Bradford's Towing and Recovery in Tarpon Springs. The front of the Trans Am that Straub was driving was crumpled inward about 11/2 feet. The driver's side of Rodriguez's Camry was pushed in about 21/2 feet.
Rodriguez is being kept alive on life support, said his father Ron Berman. Doctors have discussed stopping the use of life-sustaining care, but Rodriguez's family does not see that as an option, Berman said.
Rodriguez, who authorities said was not wearing a seat belt, was ejected from his car in the crash.
Berman said doctors have told him his son's head injuries were caused in the initial impact, not when Rodriguez landed on the road.
Dianne Berman, Rodriguez's mother, said doctors have been preparing her family for a range of different scenarios.
"When he wakes up, he's not going to be the same person," Mrs. Berman said. "They told us to prepare for when he wakes up. Hhe might not be able to feed himself; he might not be able to dress himself."
Berman said he was aware racing may have been involved in the accident. He added that he was in the process of hiring an attorney.
Berman said that while he must pursue legal action to cover his son's medical costs, he also wants to work to ensure other families do not have to go through the same thing.
"My son had a future," Berman said. "This was senseless. My main interest is to stop this from happening ever again."
Anyone with information about this accident is encouraged to call Crime Stoppers at (800) 873-8477. Callers can remain anonymous and information leading to an arrest will be rewarded with up to $1,000.
