Gas line leak slows traffic along SR 54

By Times Staff Writer
Published November 27, 2007

ODESSA

Authorities diverted traffic from State Road 54 Monday afternoon when a natural gas leak sprang up on a construction site near Gunn Highway and Black Lake Road. SR 54 was slowed for more than an hour after lunchtime while the leak was repaired. Officials said it happened when a tractor in a housing development struck the high-pressure line.

TARPON SPRINGS

Man thrown from speedboat, unhurt

A Pasco County man escaped serious injury Sunday when he was ejected from a speedboat that had been traveling upward of 90 mph, officials with the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office said. Investigators with the Sheriff's Office Marine Unit say James K. Helmintoller, 21211 Sky Vista Drive, Land O'Lakes, was driving his 353 Fastech speedboat about 92 mph down the Anclote River Channel when his boat hit a wake, ejecting the 43-year-old into the water and sending the unmanned speedboat out of the river channel and into the open waters of the Anclote Anchorage bay. Helmintoller was rescued by the U.S. Coast Guard and later took himself to Helen Ellis Hospital with injuries described by officials as not life-threatening. He was cited with misdemeanor reckless operation of a vessel.

[Last modified November 27, 2007, 06:40:23]