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Fire captain thrown from car during crash
By Times staff
Published February 3, 2007
SPRING HILL - A Hernando County Fire Rescue captain was hurt in an off-duty car crash on Friday. Capt. Matthew Gatewood was westbound on Cortez Boulevard, the Sheriff's Office said, when 86-year-old Betty Gates pulled in front of him while trying to turn onto Weeping Willow Street. Gates' car clipped Gatewood's Jeep Grand Cherokee, which rolled five times. Gatewood was ejected through the sun roof. Rescue workers called for an airlift, but the weather was too stormy for flying. Gatewood was taken to Brooksville Regional Hospital with injuries that were not thought to be life-threatening. Gates was cited for careless driving, according to the Sheriff's Office.
[Last modified February 3, 2007, 07:34:13]
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by Jeep Driver
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02/20/07 08:19 PM
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Just so you all know, I was the driver of the jeep, I was going down to help a fellow fireman at Sears lift something, or I would have been at home. Yes, I was
wearing my seatbelt. Thanks for bashing me and not asking about my injuries.
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by Someone
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02/20/07 06:38 PM
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I'm glad there are people GUESSING no seat belt, he DID have it on, the SUV still has it buckled while in the junkyard. "Was he sighted- no" Your an idiot, I was THERE at the accident at 50 & Weeping Willow, he was wearing it.
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by Tom
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02/03/07 04:31 PM
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No seat belt !!!!!?
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by jeff
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02/03/07 04:01 PM
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gAte wood was wearing his seatbelt at the time of the crash. the momentum of the roll-over pulled him to the center of the vehicle and out the sunroof. seltbelt wasn't an issue.
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by Cheryl
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02/03/07 03:40 PM
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The article states that athe 86 year old woman was at fault, not Gatewoods.
When are people ever going to learn that driving is a privilege and not a right. Age is no guarantee of a safe driver nor a right to independance.
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by Dick
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02/03/07 11:05 AM
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If Gatewood would have been wearing a seat belt he wouldnt have been thrown out of his vehicle.Was he sighted--No he should have been for not wearing a seat belt.But FHP and Sheriff always look out for each other.Old peoples not to blame.! I`m 27
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by Melinda
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02/03/07 09:48 AM
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Just another reason older people should have to take a yearly driving test.
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by Tom
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02/03/07 08:23 AM
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When are we going to start prosecuting these elderly people who continue to drive? This is a much worse problem than drunk driving but there are no penalties for these people. Lucky Grandma didnt kill anyone...this time.
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