Car's driver dies in collision with SUV

Two women and their daughters on a girls' day out are injured by the out-of-control car.

By AUSTIN BOGUES
Published July 14, 2007

BROOKSVILLE - This weekend, Kathryn Calabro will celebrate her 10th wedding anniversary with her husband, Joseph, in Jamaica.

She's happy just to be able to go.

Thursday afternoon, Calabro, her friend Karen Hyde and their two daughters got together for a "girls' day out." Hyde watched the two girls while Calabro went for a spa treatment to get ready for the big trip. On their way back home, they stopped by the Goodwill store in Brooksville to donate a stroller.

Less than a quarter-mile before they reached Calabro's home, they saw a car heading east in their lane, spiraling out of control in front of them on Powell Road, just west of U.S. 41.

The 2000 Pontiac sedan fishtailed, turning counterclockwise, and crossing the center line into the westbound lane, according to Calabro and a Florida Highway Patrol report. The right side of the sedan crashed into the front of Hyde's 2004 Acura MDX sport utility vehicle.

Hyde, 36, of Spring Hill said the last thing she saw before her air bag deployed was a man's head hitting the windshield of his car.

The driver, Frank Wyman, 37, of New Port Richey was pronounced dead at the scene. Authorities do not know why Wyman lost control of his car.

"I don't know if he just couldn't see that I was so close or his judgment was impaired, but he didn't make it," Hyde said.

The Highway Patrol requested a toxicology report on Wyman, and results are pending.

Limited information about Wyman was available Friday. According to public records, he was born in Illinois with the name Frank Anthony Kozinski. He once owned a business in Pasco County called Mr. Home Decor.

Hyde and her 6-year-old daughter, Morgan, were taken by helicopter separately to Tampa General Hospital. Hyde said several people came to their aid at the scene of the crash, including an off-duty nurse and several men who had seen the crash and pulled over.

Hyde said that one of the paramedics on the helicopter with Morgan was the father of a playmate and held her hand to reassure the little girl she would be okay. Morgan suffered a fractured vertebra in the crash, Hyde said, and may need surgery. Hyde was released from the hospital Friday.

Calabro, 37, and her 4-year-old daughter, Cassandra, of Brooksville were taken to Brooksville Regional Hospital, where both were treated for minor injuries and released.

Calabro said she and her daughter were both feeling a bit sore Friday, but otherwise were fine.

"We're just thankful to be alive right now," she said.

Times researcher Carolyn Edds contributed to this report. Austin Bogues can be reached at abogues @sptimes.com or 352 754-6117.

[Last modified July 13, 2007, 22:41:21]