News on the go

By Times Staff Writer
Published January 21, 2008

TAMPA BAY

Cool snap is forecast to break today

Though a blustery weekend storm left thousands without power and canceled an annual parade, temperatures should warm up today, according to the National Weather Service in Ruskin. Today was to begin chilly, but then climb to highs in the low 70s by afternoon, forecaster Tom Dougherty said Sunday evening. The trend comes after a Saturday evening storm that hurled winds of more than 50 mph across Tampa Bay, blew over trees and left about 7,000 residents without power. As of Sunday evening, power had been restored to all of those households, said representatives from Progress Energy and Tampa Electric. The Weather Service reported no serious injuries. But the storm forced organizers to cancel the Children's Gasparilla Parade in Tampa for the first time in 17 years. Only 30 of 117 floats had pulled onto Bayshore Boulevard when organizers realized the weather was too hazardous to go forward.

TAMPA

Bicyclist falls into street, is run over A Tampa man was left in critical condition after he was run over by a minivan Saturday night on Hillsborough Avenue, the Florida Highway Patrol said. The man had not been identified by FHP investigators Sunday. He was stopped on the south side of eastbound Hillsborough Avenue just west of 56th Street when he tried to get off his bike and fell into the road as a 2004 Ford Freestar was approaching. Following was a 1994 Ford Explorer. The driver of the Freestar, Ida M. Finley, 46, tried to brake but hit the man, who landed on her hood. Then the Explorer driver, William W. Bassett, 22, rear-ended the van, which knocked the victim off the van's hood and into the street. The impact of the Explorer's crash pushed the van forward, causing Finley's vehicle to run over the man, the FHP said.

PLANT CITY

Driver dies as car hits mobile home

A Lakeland woman died early Sunday after her car veered off U.S. 92 in Plant City and struck an unoccupied mobile home, the Florida Highway Patrol said. Enid J. Evans of 6924 Potomac Circle was traveling west approaching Forces Road when, for reasons unknown to FHP troopers, her 2005 Hyundai left U.S. 92 and went 154 feet along the north portion of the grass shoulder. She was wearing her seat belt when she struck the mobile home at 4306 U.S. 92. Evans was later pronounced dead at Lakeland Regional Hospital.

[Last modified January 20, 2008, 23:21:10]