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Land O'Lakes man veers off road, dies

By TIMES WIRES
Published December 28, 2006

A Land O'Lakes man died Saturday after his vehicle hit a tree and a utility pole in Lutz, deputies say. Christopher M. Woodard, 30, of 3929 Briley Loop was pronounced dead at University Community Hospital shortly after the 6:42 a.m. crash at Livingston Avenue and Victarra Circle, according to the Hillsborough Sheriff's Office. Woodard was headed south on Livingston Avenue on Saturday when his 1995 Ford veered into the northbound lane and drove off the road, deputies say.

Citrus jail inmate walks off job site

A Citrus County inmate trusted to work outside the barbed wire walls of the jail remained on the lam Wednesday night after he walked off a job at a fire station. Authorities launched a search for Jose Felix Malagon-Cervantes, 25, in the Withlacoochee State Forest. He was arrested in August for violating his drug offender probation. He is not considered dangerous.

Holiday inflatables attract vandals

Santa didn't get run over by his reindeer. Vandals did the job instead. Last weekend, Deputy Derek Origon came across several people knocking over and tackling inflatable lawn ornaments. On Battersea Avenue, a 12-foot-tall Santa Claus was torn apart, with mud all over him. An oversized snow globe was knocked over but not destroyed. The homeowner, John Castro, wanted to press charges only against the man accused of tearing up the Santa. Alexander Oliver, 19, was given a citation for criminal mischief.

Fire claims home of woman, 3 children

Hillsborough County Fire Rescue responded to a mobile home fire at Badgerow Place and 14th Avenue SE at 8:21 p.m. Wednesday. Firefighters brought the blaze under control within 10 minutes, but Fire Rescue spokesman Ray Yeakley said the residence was a total loss. A woman and her three children, ages 10, 12 and 16, were displaced by the fire. The American Red Cross was helping them. A firefighter was treated after getting debris in his eye, Yeakley said. Investigators had not determined the cause of the fire late Wednesday.

TAMPA TRUCK FIRE: Emergency officials responded to a truck fire on the westbound side of the Howard Frankland Bridge shortly before 7 p.m. Wednesday. Part of the bridge was closed briefly while the Florida Highway Patrol investigated the blaze. Tampa Fire Rescue reported no injuries.

HUNTERS LOSE TRUCK: Two hunters ended up lost Wednesday with their truck broken down on railroad tracks north of State Road 50 near U.S. 301 in Hernando County. A CSX train slammed into the GMC truck. The driver, Charles M. McElrath of Wildwood, was charged with interference with a train.

[Last modified December 28, 2006, 00:31:59]