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In Brief

Car crash kills former Lt. Gov. Tom Adams

By TIMES WIRES
Published May 23, 2006

LIVE OAK - Former Florida Lt. Gov. Tom Adams died and his son was injured in a car wreck Monday, authorities said.

Mr. Adams, 89, was driving on Interstate 10 in Suwanee County with his 19-year-old son when he lost control of the 2004 Ford Explorer, drove into the median, hit a sign and flipped the vehicle at 2:50 p.m., Florida Highway Patrol Lt. Michael Burroughs said.

The senior Adams was thrown from the vehicle and was pronounced dead at the scene, Burroughs said. He was not wearing a seat belt. His son, Tom "TJ" Adams III, was wearing a seat belt and sustained serious injury. He was listed in fair condition at Shands hospital at the University of Florida at Gainesville.

Authorities are investigating the cause of the crash.

Mr. Adams of Fellsmere was secretary of state from 1961 to 1971 and lieutenant governor under Gov. Reubin Askew from 1971 to 1975.

Woman, 3 children killed in Polk County crash

DUNDEE - A 28-year-old woman and three children were killed Monday when their sport utility vehicle went out of control and collided with a semitrailer truck, the Florida Highway Patrol said.

Two other children in the SUV were taken in critical condition to a Tampa hospital following the 6 a.m. crash in Polk County, the patrol said.

The northbound 1999 Nissan Pathfinder driven by Demetrick Goldwire of Lakeland went onto the shoulder of U.S. 27, then spun around and slid into the southbound lanes, slamming into the truck. Goldwire and all five children were ejected, the patrol said.

The children, ranging in age from 18 months to 12 years, were not immediately identified

The truck driver, Robert E. Luckie Jr., 50, of Clovis, N.M., suffered minor injuries.

- TIMES WIRES

[Last modified May 23, 2006, 04:21:25]