Girl, 9, bitten in face when two dogs attack

By Times Wires
Published December 13, 2007

BRANDON

A 9-year-old girl playing in the back yard of 1101 Southside Drive was pinned to the ground by two dogs Wednesday. One of them bit her in the face, according to the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office.

Paramedics drove Angela Davis to Tampa General Hospital with nonlife-threatening injuries. Ellen Fiss, hospital spokeswoman, listed her condition as fair.

The homeowner, Shawny Duncan, 35, who owns the dogs, started experiencing unrelated medical problems and was taken to Brandon Community Hospital, where she was listed in good condition and released, hospital officials said. Duncan is pregnant, Hillsborough County sheriff's officials said.

The two mixed-breed dogs, Duke and Buc, were turned over to Animal Control.

Angela, who lives in Thonotosassa, was playing with other children and the dogs when she was attacked, sheriff's officials said. Her family declined to comment.

RIVERVIEW

Overnight fire erupts on parked church bus

Investigators are working to determine what caused an overnight fire to a bus used to carry children to and from church.

Hillsborough County Fire Rescue officials arrived outside Bethel Baptist Church, 12842 Balm Riverview Road, about 1:30 a.m. to find the bus in flames.

No injuries were reported.

SEFFNER 

Mobile home blaze sends 3 to hospitals

A mobile home erupted in flames Wednesday, killing a dog and sending three people to local hospitals with injuries from smoke inhalation.

A dog, a snake and two cats were not found by authorities.

"Apparently, somebody tried to go in and rescue his animals, and then his neighbor tried to pull him out," said Hillsborough Fire Rescue spokesman Bruce Delk.

A third person, standing close to the mobile home at 310 Elm St., was treated for smoke inhalation and cuts, Delk said.

LUTZ 

Tampa man dies after four-car collision

A Tampa man has died a day after a four-car collision on Lutz Lake Fern Road sent two people to the hospital.

Timothy McGunnigle, 60, was driving east on Lutz Lake Fern near Cypress Green Drive Monday around 6:50 p.m., when he rear-ended a 1996 Nissan.

The crash caused a chain reaction that spun two more cars out of control, according to sheriff's spokeswoman Debbie Carter.

McGunnigle, who lived at of 4817 Tea Rose Court, died Tuesday.

TAMPA

7-year-old loses teeth in fall from apartment

A 7-year-old girl fell 10 to 12 feet to the ground after leaning over the railing outside her apartment Wednesday.

Tampa paramedics took Jon-Meiah Short of 4810 Hidden River Court Apt. B to Tampa General Hospital.

Jon-Meiah tumbled from the railing as she was talking to her sister below. Hillsborough Sheriff's spokeswoman Debbie Carter said the girl's other family members were inside.

The fall knocked out some of the girl's teeth, Carter said.

[Last modified December 12, 2007, 23:23:31]