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2 killed as girl steps in motorcycle's path
By ALEXANDRA ZAYAS
Published April 23, 2007
TAMPA - Robert Lee Kolp loved his mom and his motorcycle. The 20-year-old from Plant City dreamed of becoming a state trooper. Lucia Thibodeaux was just 16. She wrote poetry, danced hip hop and had a beautiful singing voice. Both lives ended on the Courtney Campbell Causeway just before midnight Saturday. Pedro Quinones, 25, of Tampa was driving west on the causeway when Tampa police say he lost control and struck a guardrail. Lucia, his passenger, opened the car door and stepped into the street and into the path of the 20-year-old Kolp and his motorcycle. Lucia and Kolp died at the scene. Quinones was arrested and charged with driving under the influence with serious bodily injury and driving without a valid license. Jail records show Quinones was also charged with DUI in 2004. He was released Sunday on $2,250 bond. Sandra Gonzalez, 25, doesn't know how her cousin Lucia ended up in Quinones' car, but she has suspicions. "This MySpace nowadays is so dangerous," she said. "You hear about it every day, and she's constantly on there. I wouldn't doubt that it's even the first time she knew the guy." Gonzalez had just attended a family party with Lucia hours before. Lucia was a joker, she said. An "untouchable teenager." Her best friend. Fay Kolp worried about her fearless son every time he cruised the causeway on his motorcycle. "Ever since Robert was little, he always had a need for speed," the mother said. "And he loved to go nothing to 90 on almost anything he did." He also couldn't wait for his birthday. He kept a counter running on his MySpace profile. Two months, three days, five hours until the big 21. When his mom worried, or got angry at him, he'd say "Mom, just chill out. It'll be all right." Friends filled her Plant City home Sunday night. One, who was with Kolp the night of the accident, offered consolation in the form of a dream he had. "He saw Robert in heaven, dressed in gold, and he was smiling and laughing and telling us he liked it where he was," Kolp said. "I believe that he's in heaven." Alexandra Zayas can be reached at 813 226-3354 or azayas@sptimes.com.
[Last modified April 23, 2007, 01:17:46]
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by bobby
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09/08/07 04:00 AM
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i was lucia thibodeauxs brother and i thimk that pedro should go to jail 4 man slater becouse she was in his car that means he was responcible i mite only be 14 but i know some things
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by JOJO
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07/18/07 07:34 PM
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LUCIAAAAAAAAAAA!! I MISS YOU SO MUCH!! OMGGGGGGGGG...REST IN PEACE MAMI!! I LOVE YOU GIRL
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by tina
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06/27/07 01:50 PM
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i will misz very much lil prima
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by Annie
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05/11/07 07:57 PM
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May God bring peace to the families who have lost their precious children.I know Pedro personally and I love him more than words can express. I know justice will be served and God gave mercy in this situation. Peace be with everyone involved.
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by Lisette
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05/10/07 05:53 PM
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Pedro is not a drunken child molestor! They were at a family BBQ and all decided to go to see some car races. He had a few drinks as did everyone else except the 16 y.o. She chose to ride in his car! It's not Pedro's falt the motorcycle hit her!
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by Jay
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05/08/07 11:27 AM
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For everyone out there.... Here is the REAL Story...Pedro Quinones was driving when a motorcycle clipped his car from the rear. He spun and hit the guardrail. As Lucia walked out he car... Robert Kolp ran into her with his motorcycle.
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by jay
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05/08/07 11:26 AM
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I feel for all of the families involved in this tragic accident. May they all rest in peace.
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by Jay
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05/08/07 11:22 AM
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Robert Kolp was traveling at high speeds. Depspite the fact that Pedro was driving drunk. It is not his fault. If Robert would have traveled at a normal Speed... He would have had more time to react to Lucia standing in the middle of the road.
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by Lauren (Robert's girlfriend)
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05/01/07 09:03 AM
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this was a tragic accident & was completely the fault of the drunk driver..he made the choice to get behind the wheel after drinking & ended 2lives way to early. my prayers go out to lucys family. Rest in peace Robert & Lucy,you will b forever missed
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by Shelly
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04/29/07 01:22 PM
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If anyone has first hand knowledge "saw what happend" please contact Shelly1222@AOL.com. The family of Lucy Thibodeaux will appreciate it. We have been told many different stories and just want the true facts. NO HATE MAIL, PLEASE.
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by Kris
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04/29/07 11:47 AM
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The friends with Robert said that they were 10-12 feet behind him on the Causeway, they were getting hit with debris, there's no way that she had time to get out of the car that quickly if they were driving thru that closely to when the car spun
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by Gwen
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04/26/07 04:06 PM
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There is alot of critisism being sent in both directions, no matter where the fault lies two families have lost loved ones.My prayers go to both families. Speed is dangerous as is drinking and driving. Let their souls rest and be remembered.
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by amber maria and jessica
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04/26/07 10:30 AM
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R.i.P JUiCY LUCY!! WE lOVE UY ANd MiSS U! PAT SHUT UP U dONT KNO HER.
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by brianna
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04/25/07 07:38 PM
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god bless you juicy lucy
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by Ms.
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04/25/07 05:53 PM
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I was on vacation down the road when this accident happened.OUR PRAYERS GO OUT TO ALL THE FAMILIES.I WAS amazed at the number of motorist driving recklessly/over the speed limit. Its each person's own responsibility when getting on/behind the wheel
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by brandi
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04/25/07 11:23 AM
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my heart and prayers go out to the kolp family.. robert was a friend of mine! he always had a smiL also my heart goes out to the 16 year old girls family his face!!
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by Vanessa
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04/25/07 10:58 AM
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Robert was such a good guy. He could always make you laugh and it's a shame that he is gone. He will truly be missed. R.I.P Robert Kolp we will never forget.
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by Gary
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04/24/07 11:14 PM
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Love how WTVT spins this on the driver of the bike and how he was speeding, and blaming it on street racing. An underage girl was with a drunk driver and everyone else is at fault. Good parenting letting your girl be with a delinquent.Keep breeding
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by MIke Nice
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04/24/07 06:33 PM
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R.I.P Lucia!!!!......we will always love you...
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by Mike Nice
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04/24/07 06:32 PM
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This is to Pat, that was a really harsh comment, how can you point the blame in a situation like this,anyway i knew Luica personally and i know for a fact that she was not DRUNK,And how do you know the biker was not speedin?,and no i'm not blamin him
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by pat
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04/23/07 11:22 PM
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i,m sorry,but read the article.the accident wasnt caused by the motorcycle!it was caused by a 16 year old girl who more than likely was drunk, much like the driver of the car!if any one is at fault, it is the driver of the car, a drunk child molester
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by Carol
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04/23/07 09:33 PM
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Quit blaming the police for everything. Why don't the drivers do something. The police are not omnipotent. Every single time a tragedy occurs, no matter what it is, someone out there says something brilliant like, "Why don't the police do something."
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by Lola
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04/23/07 04:46 PM
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Why doesn't police in Clearwater do something about these motorcyclists? The bridge is packed with them on Saturday nights.A mo. ago one of them had an accident in front of Racetrack in Gulf to Bay Blvd. Thank God he survived. It's all out of control
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by Lillian
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04/23/07 04:14 PM
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My heart goes out to both families. I pray they find peace thru all of this.I live in Clrwtr. and am scare to drive on Sat.nights thru the causeway b/c of speeding motorcyclists. Last wk. i almost had an accident b/c one of them. I pray for everyone.
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by Ms. Dee
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04/23/07 03:36 PM
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We always miss our "Little Lucy" that's how we knew her in the neighbrhood. God blessed us for 12 years with Little Lucy. Everyone loved her everywhere she went. My kids grew-up with her. Her family and freinds will always " LOVE LUCY". Love Ms. Dee
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