Man hit by trolley dies from injuries

By Times Staff Writer
Published February 18, 2005

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TAMPA - A man who walked into the path of a HARTline trolley after last weekend's Sant'Yago Illuminated Knight Parade has died.

Donald Keefe, 28, of 305 E Hydrangia St., died Wednesday from his injuries suffered when he stepped in front of a HARTline trolley in Ybor City shortly after midnight Sunday, according to Tampa police and the Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority.

Keefe, who had been let off a southbound trolley near the Port Authority building at 1101 Channelside Drive, moments later was hit by a northbound trolley, according to transit officials and police.

Passengers on the first trolley said Keefe had been drinking on the trolley and was so obnoxious they asked the conductor to kick him off, said transit spokesman Ed Crawford.

The conductor took the beer away from Keefe but did not kick him off, Crawford said.

Keefe left the trolley at the next stop, and moments later, passengers on the northbound trolley saw him walk into its path, police and transit officials said.

The trolley, which was moving at about 15 mph, did not hit Keefe head on, but rather he walked into the side of it and was thrown about 10 feet away, Crawford said.

Keefe was taken to Tampa General Hospital, where he died Wednesday, police said.