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Motorcyclist dies after his bike runs into car

By Times Staff
Published January 30, 2006

TAMPA - A motorcyclist died Sunday night after his bike ran into a car, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

George Esparza, 43, died at the accident site Sunday night on Dale Mabry Highway. Troopers were still searching Sunday night for another motorcyclist, who had been traveling with Esparza but fled the accident scene.

Esparza and the other motorcyclist were going north on Dale Mabry Highway about 5:45 p.m. at high rates of speed, troopers said. About the same time, Mary Rush, 75, and Josephine Slavinski, 80, were driving south in a 1998 Ford Taurus on Dale Mabry. Rush tried to make a left turn and crossed into the paths of the motorcycles, the FHP said.

Esparza, of 14807 N 30th St., rammed into the side of Rush's Ford and was thrown from his 2002 Suzuki motorcycle.

Patrol officers said the second motorcyclist did not hit either vehicle, but was also thrown from his bike. He got up and left. Officers describe him as a white or Hispanic male who likely has head and face injuries. He was driving a silver or gray sport bike, possibly a Suzuki GSXR, patrol officers said.

Neither Rush nor her passenger, Slavinski, was seriously injured, the FHP reported.

BRANDON - Hillsborough sheriff's deputies were searching Sunday night for two would-be robbers who allegedly shot a man while he was in his garage.

The man, who police have not named, was inside his garage at 1727 Westerly Drive about 9:40 p.m. Sunday when he was approached by a black man and a black woman, deputies said.

The couple were wearing dark clothing and demanded money, deputies said. Shots were fired and struck the man, 50. He was airlifted to Tampa General Hospital, where he remained in stable condition late Sunday.

The would-be robbers fled the Heather Lakes subdivision, where the shooting occurred. Late Sunday, deputies searched the area with canine and helicopter units.

TAMPA - An 18-year-old man was fatally shot Sunday at 4:30 p.m., police said, in an apparent drug deal gone bad.

Police said the victim, who was not identified Sunday night, and a woman met with three men at an undisclosed location. The men got in the victim's 2004 Chevy Impala, where the shooting took place.

The three men fled, and the woman drove the Impala to the 8600 block of N 39th Street, where authorities were called.

-- Compiled by Times staff.

[Last modified January 30, 2006, 05:55:24]