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Sumter country crash kills Largo resident

Authorities still aren't sure what caused the Sunday evening crash that killed Donald Pavey, who moved from Michigan.

By JACOB H. FRIES
Published June 21, 2006

Donald E. Pavey left Michigan in the late 1970s to find work in Florida. He stayed, married, had two sons, divorced, welcomed grandchildren and worked hard as a machinist, his family says.

At 8:28 p.m. on Sunday, Pavey was alone driving west on County Road 48 in Sumter County, about five miles east of Bushnell, when he lost control of his 1999 GMC pickup, the Florida Highway Patrol said.

The truck traveled across the shoulder and flipped over, killing Pavey, who was 54. Investigators were still trying to determine the cause of the crash and were awaiting the results of an autopsy.

"Hopefully, that will shed some light so we can piece this together a bit more," Trooper Larry Coggins said.

Pavey, who lived off 66th Street N, was born in Hillsdale, Mich., the youngest of four children, said his father Robert Pavey, 78, by phone from Michigan. Shortly after graduating from high school, Pavey moved to Florida.

Over the years, two activities besides work occupied much of Pavey's time: yakking with neighbors and working on cars. "That's all he did," his father said.

The elder Pavey said he often visited his son in Largo, staying "until he kicked us out." But because of poor health, the elder Pavey hadn't visited in more than two years.

"He'll be missed," he said. "We're missing him already."

Pavey will be cremated and his remains brought home to Michigan, to be closer to his family.

[Last modified June 20, 2006, 22:21:35]