Fill out this form to email this article to a friend
Driver dies after crossing I-4 median
By Times Staff
Published June 29, 2005
TAMPA - An early morning accident along Interstate 4 on Tuesday left one person dead and partially closed westbound lanes for hours, the Florida Highway Patrol said.
Barbara S. Herlong, 58, of 6416 Frank Herlong Drive in Seffner died after she drove her Cadillac Catera Sedan into eastbound traffic and in front of a semitrailer truck.
Herlong was traveling west on I-4, just east of Interstate 75, about 5:40 a.m. when the right side of her car collided with the left side of a 1996 Freightliner semitrailer truck driven by Ugaldo N. Rodriguez, 42, of 976 Gascony Court, Kissimmee, who also was traveling west.
The impact caused Herlong to slide through the median, entering eastbound lanes and crossing into the path of a second semitrailer truck, a 1998 Peterbilt, driven by Cesareo M. Cardoso, 52, of 7715 Landmark Way, Tampa. The front of Cardoso's truck smashed into the driver's side of Herlong's Cadillac, a trooper said. Herlong, who was not wearing a seat belt, died at the scene from her injuries.
Troopers shut down parts of westbound I-4 for almost four hours to conduct an investigation.
I-4 collision kills woman, injures three
PLANT CITY - A 75-year-old woman died in a three-vehicle accident that shut down parts of Interstate 4 on Monday night, the Florida Highway Patrol said.
Thelma L. Elmore died at the scene of the 8:30 p.m. crash just east of Branch Forbes Road.
She was a passenger in a car driven by Robert E. Elmore, 77, of 4603 Daventry Place in Valrico. Their westbound 2002 Cadillac Sedan Deville crashed into a pickup that crossed the median and drove into their path.
The 2000 Chevrolet Silverado pickup was driven by James T. Falls, 29, of 1424 Plantation Circle in Plant City. Falls was driving east on I-4 when he crossed lanes and collided with the front end of an eastbound 2005 Honda Pilot SUV driven by John S. Sandmann, 37, of 5598 Burnt Branch Circle in Sarasota. That collision sent Falls' pickup across the median and into the path of the Elmores' car.
Robert Elmore was airlifted to Tampa General Hospital because of his injuries. Falls was taken to South Florida Baptist Hospital with minor injuries. Sandmann also suffered minor injuries.
Principal reprimanded for plagiarizing speeches
BROOKSVILLE - Springstead High School principal Susan Duval's punishment for plagiarizing two commencement speeches is one that students in similar trouble would envy: a mild reprimand.
On Tuesday afternoon, school district officials released a copy of the three-paragraph letter of reprimand that will be placed in Duval's personnel file. The letter, signed by superintendent Wendy Tellone, notes that Duval's one-day suspension with pay on June 9 is also "part of the disciplinary action."
District officials have referred Duval's case to state authorities. While state investigators review the case, Duval will stay on as principal.
[Last modified June 29, 2005, 01:18:19]
Share your thoughts on this story
|
News
Fifty years ago, they were screwed-up kids sent to the Florida School for Boys to be straightened out. But now they are screwed-up men, scarred by the whippings they endured. Read the story and see a video and portrait gallery.
Print
Email story
Comment
Email editor
