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Injured driver is agency director

Deborah Getzoff heads the state Department of Environmental Protection's southwest district.

By BEN MONTGOMERY
Published May 7, 2006

LITHIA - On Friday, a few minutes before twilight, on a four-lane strip of busy Bloomingdale Avenue, Narciso Ramos III ended what deputies say was his last road race, and sent two people to a hospital with serious injuries.

Deborah Getzoff, director of the state Department of Environmental Protection's southwest district, was airlifted to Tampa General Hospital, where she was treated overnight. She remained in critical condition Saturday.

Her husband, lawyer John Voelpel was upgraded to serious condition by Saturday afternoon, a hospital spokeswoman said.

Getzoff, a Chicago native who spent 10 years as an attorney for Fowler, White, Boggs and Banker, became a department director in 1999, assuming responsibility for a 12-county area, including the Tampa Bay area.

News of her injuries circulated in political circles Saturday.

"We need to pray for her," lobbyist Denise Layne said when she heard the news.

Hillsborough County sheriff's deputies say Ramos, 28, of Brandon was driving a 1991 Acura when he swerved around a slower vehicle, crossed the median and hit Getzoff's westbound 1999 Toyota Corolla head-on about 6:40 p.m.

Ramos was pronounced dead at the scene.

Witnesses told deputies that Ramos was racing a light blue car, cutting in and out of traffic. Deputies issued an alert but hadn't found the other vehicle by Saturday.

Ramos had an affinity for cars, two neighbors said. He was always under the hood in his driveway. His muffler was so loud neighbors knew when he got home.

The car he was driving Friday was registered to his wife, sheriff's spokeswoman Debbie Carter said.

His family could not be reached Saturday. Neighbors said they were mourning Friday evening outside the house.

[Last modified May 7, 2006, 01:24:21]