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Van strikes, kills Brooksville teenager riding bike
Authorities say they smelled alcohol on the driver, a 53-year-old man, and drew his blood for testing.
By JONATHAN ABEL
Published December 4, 2005
BROOKSVILLE - Suzette Hille was hanging Christmas lights outside her house just before 6 p.m. Saturday when she saw a young woman on a bicycle pedal by with her mother walking at her side.
An instant later, a Ford van heading south on WPA Road near Granat Street slammed into the bicyclist from behind, knocking her about 100 feet. Stephanie Arthur, 18, died shortly afterward.
"I heard the impact and the mother scream and I ran down the road," Hille said. "I talked to the girl, said it was okay, that the ambulance is on its way - to hold on."
Arthur was flown by helicopter to St. Joseph's Hospital in Tampa, where she was pronounced dead. Her mother, Peggy Sue Arthur, 37, was slightly injured by debris from the crash. Both women's home address is 7466 Gordon Loop.
The driver, Boyce E. Helms, 53, of Brooksville was unhurt.
Authorities said they smelled alcohol on Helms and drew blood for testing. Helms was not arrested, pending further investigation, said Sgt. Lee Frye of the Florida Highway Patrol. Frye said it could be weeks before the blood-alcohol level from the sample is calculated.
Stephanie Arthur was not wearing a helmet, a report said.
Katelyn Lamp, 15, said she saw the driver "sitting on the ground, hitting his fists and crying" after the crash.
She was sitting in her house nearby when she heard the crash and ran outside to see a crowd gathering around the girl. She called 911.
Last year, Lamp was hit by a car on the same road, though not seriously injured. She said she is afraid to walk along it even to go to the bus stop.
For hours after the crash, neighbors gathered in the darkness and talked about how dangerous the two lane road has become.
"These people fly down this road," Hille said. "Someone really needs to do something."
--Jonathan Abel can be reached at jabel@sptimes.com or 352 754-6114.
[Last modified December 4, 2005, 04:12:45]
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