Ambler is recovering from injuries he sustained in crash

By SHANNON COLAVECCHIO-VAN SICKLER
Published December 15, 2004

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TAMPA - State Rep. Kevin Ambler was injured in a crash Tuesday morning as he drove to Tallahassee from his home in Lutz, but aides said he is "doing fine" as he recovers from a broken thigh bone.

Ambler, 43, was driving north on U.S. 19 in Crystal River in Citrus County about 6:30 a.m. when he hit the back of a 1994 Mack semitrailer truck that had stopped to make a left turn onto Hollingsworth Trail, according to a Florida Highway Patrol report.

Ambler's 2004 Lexus SUV hit the back of the truck so hard, it caused about $15,000 in damage, according to the FHP.

The impact also caused about $5,000 in damage to the rear of the trailer, troopers said. The semitrailer driver, Jaime Zapata, 54, of 12458 Killian St. in Spring Hill, was taken to Seven Rivers Hospital with minor injuries, FHP officials said.

Ambler was flown to Tampa General Hospital with "serious, but not life-threatening" injuries, said FHP spokesman Trooper Larry Coggins. Ambler and Zapata were wearing seat belts at the time of the crash.

Ambler, a Republican first elected in 2002, had surgery Tuesday to repair a broken thigh bone, said one of his aides."He is doing fine," senior executive assistant Judy Skinner wrote in an e-mail.

Coggins said charges are pending in the crash.

"There were some violations by both drivers," he said.

Troopers are doing a commercial inspection of Zapata's semi, and, Coggins said,"obviously Mr. Ambler didn't stop when he should (have)."

Shannon Colavecchio-Van Sickler can be reached at 813 226-3373 or svansickler@sptimes.com