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3-vehicle crash injures 3 in southeast Hillsborough
CR 39 is closed for an hour as officials investigate a crash that began with a hit-and-run at a parking lot.
By SHANNON COLAVECCHIO-VAN SICKLER
Published December 17, 2005
TAMPA - A three-vehicle crash on County Road 39 near Alderman's Ford in southeast Hillsborough injured three people and forced investigators to shut down the highway for an hour Friday morning.
The crash happened at 9:27 a.m., and sheriff's investigators say the chain of events leading to the crash began minutes earlier with a minor hit-and-run in the parking lot of a 7-Eleven convenience store.
Justin J. Johnson, 18, fled the scene of the crash in the parking lot at Dover Road and State Road 60, and deputies issued an alert for the Nissan Sentra he was driving, said sheriff's spokeswoman Debbie Carter.
Deputies said Johnson veered from his southbound lane into the northbound lane of CR 39 at the curve just north of Thompson Road, where his Nissan hit the side of a northbound Dodge pickup truck driven by Johnathan Lewis, 17, of Lithia.
Lewis has a learner's permit and was accompanied by his father, Ricky Lewis, 51, of Lithia.
The Nissan then hit a Ford pickup truck driven by James Gurda, 20, of Riverview, deputies said, sending the Ford into a ditch. Finally, the Nissan spun around on CR 39 and stopped in the southbound lane.
Johnson sustained critical injuries and was taken to Tampa General Hospital, where he remained Friday night in good condition.
Gurda was treated at an undisclosed hospital. Gurda's passenger, James Rogers, 42, of Riverview, was treated and released from Tampa General, spokesman John Dunn said.
The Lewises were not injured.
Sheriff's officials have not filed charges, but the investigation is ongoing.
Court records show Johnson is scheduled to go before a Hillsborough judge Jan. 10, because he violated the terms of a juvenile probation sentence handed down following his arrests on burglary and and auto theft charges.
Also, Johnson's license was suspended for six months - and reinstated in May - because of the arrests.
Times staff researcher Cathy Wos contributed to this report. Shannon Colavecchio-Van Sickler can be reached at 813 226-3373 or svansickler@sptimes.com
[Last modified December 17, 2005, 01:00:13]
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