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Letter to the editor

Motorcyclist is 5th killed in past month

By Times Staff Writers
Published January 13, 2008

Sharon Cocina warned her son to be careful riding his motorcycle, but Wednesday night, the worst happened.

Lawrence "Jerry" Kwiatkowski, 29, who moved from New York six weeks ago, crashed into a pickup on N Hercules Avenue in Clearwater.

He was wearing a helmet, according to the Florida Highway Patrol, but he was driving without a headlight.

Kwiatkowski's death marks the fifth motorcycle fatality in Pinellas County in the last month. Authorities say the deaths don't constitute a trend, except in the sense that more motorcycles are on the road than ever before. Statewide, the number of registered motorcycles has tripled, from 195,000 in 2000 to 579,000 in 2006.

The crashes took place in Clearwater, Palm Harbor, East Lake and Seminole, and there are some common elements in many: Men. Speeding. Sports bikes. Someone pulls in front of them or they can't stop. Some wore helmets, others not.

- On Dec. 12, 25-year-old Christopher Herring drove his 2006 Suzuki GSXR motorcycle into a car that was making a U-turn on Seminole Boulevard. Witnesses told authorities Herring was weaving through traffic. He died at a local hospital.

- On Dec. 20, John Edward Paul Jr. and two other motorcyclists were going north on U.S. 19 in Clearwater. Witnesses said Paul was weaving through traffic at speeds nearing 100 mph when he misjudged the distance between himself and another vehicle. His 2001 Kawasaki motorcycle crashed into the back of an SUV and Paul was thrown to his death.

- On New Year's Day, Jeffrey T. Eckhardt, 39, was going north on East Lake Road near Woodlands Parkway about 1:50 a.m. when his motorcycle began sliding and he was thrown to the ground. Eckhardt was not wearing a helmet. He died at a nearby hospital.

- Monday, Craig Hales, 22, crashed into a sports utility vehicle that was making a U-turn on U.S. 19 in Palm Harbor, flipping both vehicles and causing an enormous fireball that killed Hales and the SUV's driver. Witnesses said Hales was traveling 100 mph.

Jonathan Abel, Times staff writer

Smuggling book author to tell and sell Monday

LARGO - Historian and lecturer Stan Zimmerman will present a free program based on his new book A History of Smuggling in Florida: Rumrunners and Cocaine Cowboys at 7:30 p.m. Monday at the Historic Largo Feed Store.

Parts of Pinellas County are featured in the book. A book sale and signing will follow this program, which is sponsored by the Largo Area Historical Society. The public is invited. The Historic Feed Store is at 295 Central Park Drive. Call Don Forehand at (727) 709-7382.

Times staff writer

Principal abused powerwith baseball coach

CLEARWATER - Countryside High School's principal was disciplined after an internal investigation showed he abused his power in an attempt to get his son more playing time on the school's baseball team.

A letter of caution was put in Gary Schlereth's personnel file Dec. 7.

The letter says Schlereth demonstrated poor judgment when he confronted a coach in a classroom to discuss a personal issue. Schlereth also delayed the investigation and subsequent discipline of a student athlete who pushed a volunteer coach, the letter said.

Schlereth did not return several phone calls seeking comment.

An initial investigation completed May 7 by Pinellas County schools athletics director Nick Grasso cleared Schlereth of any wrongdoing. But several baseball coaches pushed for the matter to be reopened, saying Schlereth leaned on them when his son, Nick, didn't play.

Demorris A. Lee, Times staff writer

Burglary suspect should just forget about job

CLEARWATER - Here's an important lesson, courtesy of the Clearwater police, who say they picked it up from Jimmy L. Walker, 48, of Clearwater: Don't burglarize a business where you have applied for a job.

That's what police say Walker did on Christmas Day, by smashing a side window to break into the Sunshine Car Wash in Clearwater and take $400 from the register. On New Year's Eve, he came back to take a tip box containing $9, police said. A surveillance camera captured his image during both incidents. Unfortunately for him, a manager at the carwash recognized Walker because he had recently dropped off a job application.

Times staff writer

[Last modified January 12, 2008, 20:55:57]