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Largo man dies while repairing air conditioner

By Times Staff
Published September 26, 2005

TAMPA - A Largo man died from electrical shock Sunday afternoon while repairing an air conditioning system at a Tampa motel, police said.

Jason L. Sveda, 26, and Steven Koehnlein of Areas Air Service of Tampa were working at the Orange Motel at 7800 N Nebraska Ave., when Sveda climbed into the attic. Koehnlein, who stayed below, called out to Sveda shortly before 1 p.m. and got no response. He climbed into the attic and found Sveda lying between the rafters, police said. Koehnlein touched Sveda's foot and got a shock.

He called authorities, who had Tampa Electric Co. turn off the motel's electricity so paramedics could safely move Sveda. He was pronounced dead at Tampa General Hospital, police spokesman Joe Durkin said.

Sveda's death appeared accidental, Durkin said. But investigators from the police homicide unit, Code Enforcement and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration are investigating, Durkin said.

One eastbound lane of the west bridge of the Treasure Island Causeway will close at 9 a.m. Tuesday for concrete removal. Officials expect to reopen the lane by 3 p.m. Two westbound lanes will be open to traffic as usual; eastbound traffic will be reduced to one lane.

The west bridge of the Treasure Island Causeway links Treasure Island to the Paradise Island neighborhood.

TAMPA - An East Tampa man was in critical condition Sunday night after a truck slammed into his motorcycle.

Nineteen-year-old Jimmy Rodriquez was driving a 2000 Kawaskai east on E Bird Street shortly before 2 p.m. when he stopped at N Mulberry Street and made a left.

Dudley Irving, 64, who was headed north on Mulberry did not see Rodriquez, police said, and hit him.

Rodriquez, of 1702 Hillside Drive, was not wearing a helmet, police said. He was taken to St. Joseph's Hospital, where he was listed in critical condition Sunday night.

Police cited Irving, of 5108 N 15th St., but did not reveal the nature of the citation.

ORLANDO - Authorities sought to determine Sunday what happened before a college football game when a University of Central Florida police officer was fatally shot by another officer outside the Citrus Bowl.

A third person, not identified by authorities, remained hospitalized Sunday with a gunshot wound, officials said.

Mario Jenkins, a canine officer who had been working with state Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco agents to curb underage drinking, died after being shot Saturday by a retired Orlando police officer working on reserve status.

The officer who fired the fatal shots, Dennis R. Smith, was placed on administrative leave, Orlando Police Department spokeswoman Barbara Jones said Sunday. Smith retired after 25 years in December 2001.

[Last modified September 26, 2005, 01:17:04]