Print

Email story

Comment

Email editor

6 drivers charged with racing on area highways

Stormy weather and a crackdown on speeding may cool the urge of other lead foot wanna-bes to tear up the road.

By ASHLEE CLARK
Published June 13, 2006

Here's one possible benefit of this week's soggy weather: It may cool down the need for some drivers to test the limits of their machines and their nerves on local roads.

Six men, including a father and son, were arrested in three separate incidents over the weekend on charges of racing on the highway. All were issued traffic citations.

Officials say the arrests are an attempt to curb the year-round racing that goes on in Pinellas.

The first group of arrests occurred Saturday at 11:38 p.m. on the Bayside Bridge. Three motorcycles - including a black Suzuki GSXR 1000 and a Honda CBR 1000 RR - got onto the southbound portion of the bridge from Gulf-to-Bay Boulevard and began traveling faster than 110 mph, said Sgt. Richard Nalven, supervisor of selective traffic control for the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office.

Traffic eventually slowed the motorcyclists down, giving deputies patrolling the bridge a chance to make the arrests, sheriff's spokesman Mac McMullen said.

Arrested were Brian Haakinson, 41, and his son Jonathan Haakinson, 22, both of St. Petersburg, and Wolman Pacheco, 23, of Pinellas Park. All three were released from Pinellas County Jail on Sunday morning on $250 bail.

News of the arrests may not have trickled to a group of drivers who were arrested just a few hours later.

A crowd of about 40 spectators gathered in an industrial area south of Bryan Dairy Road and 72th Street in Pinellas Park about 2 a.m. Sunday to watch a silver Honda and a black Volkswagen race, McMullen said.

Deputies weren't able to measure the speeds, but Nalven said the cars were probably going about 60 mph in a 25 to 30 mph zone.

Deputies arrested Jeisson Munoz, 19, and Juan Sanchezleal, 20, both of Tampa.

And a Florida Highway Patrol officer arrested Ignacio Pantoja at 2:21 a.m. Monday on charges of racing on a roadway and driving without a license.

The biggest concern of racing on roadways is that innocent drivers will be caught in the middle of a race, McMullen said.

Nalven said that deputies have been steadily making arrests for racing to let other drivers know that they will get caught if they race.

Sgt. Glenn Luben, supervisor of traffic enforcement for the Sheriff's Office, said the arrests are also a way to intervene before a bad accident happens.

"We're trying to make an impact on these folks that are tearing up the roads and putting citizens in danger," he said.

Ashlee Clark can be reached at aclark@sptimes.com or 445-4158.

[Last modified June 13, 2006, 04:57:30]