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Treasure Island mayor hurt in Tampa car crash

By ABBIE VANSICKLE and KATHY SAUNDERS
Published July 11, 2006

TAMPA — Treasure Island Mayor Mary Maloof was in fair condition Monday at Tampa General Hospital after a weekend car crash in Hillsborough County, a hospital spokeswoman said.

Maloof, 68, was injured Sunday morning when her family’s 2001 Lexus sedan hit a 2000 Toyota coupe near Interstates 4 and 275 west of downtown Tampa, Florida Highway Patrol Trooper Larry Coggins said.

At 11:17 a.m., Maloof and her husband, Edward, 79, were coming home from a cruise with their family when Edward Maloof struck the Toyota.
Shortly before the crash, there was a three-vehicle collision on the inside lane of I-4, Coggins said.

Edward Maloof failed to stop and hit one of the vehicles involved, a Toyota driven by Michael McElveen, 24, that was stopped on the road, Coggins said.

Mary Maloof was the only person injured in the crash, he said.
The Maloofs were wearing seat belts, Coggins said, and Edward Maloof was cited for careless driving.

On Monday morning, the mayor called Treasure Island City Manager Ralph Stone from the hospital, telling him that she had “a halo-type brace to stabilize her head and injuries that will require back surgery” later this week.

“Her voice sounded pretty strong, but her daughter said they had her on painkillers,” Stone said. “She was stable.”

She asked for prayers from her Treasure Island constituents.

Vice Mayor Ed Gayton will take over mayoral responsibilities until Maloof returns to work.

Mary Maloof is in her second term as the city’s mayor and was elected in 2003 after serving three terms as a city commissioner from District 3 on Paradise Island.

[Last modified July 11, 2006, 12:21:25]