Tampa police officer's son dies after accident

The 18-year-old motorcyclist ran into the back of a car driven by an 81-year-old man.

By JAN WESNER, Times Staff Writer
Published January 31, 2008

TAMPA - The son of a Tampa police officer was killed Wednesday while driving a motorcycle on Fletcher Avenue.

A Hillsborough Sheriff's Office report said Christopher Sacca, 18, ran into the back of a Lincoln Town Car that made a U-turn on Fletcher Avenue near Lake Magdalene Boulevard.

Sacca, the son of Tampa traffic officer Terry Sacca, died at the scene.

The driver of the Lincoln Town Car, Joseph Mentkow, 81, of Sun City Center, was not injured. His wife was a passenger in the car. She also was unhurt.

The 4 p.m. incident was still under investigation Wednesday night and deputies had not determined who was at fault.

The eastbound lanes of Fletcher Avenue near the scene of the accident were shut down for several hours.

The crash is the second in as many days involving an elderly driver. On Tuesday, 83-year-old Valerie Green backed her car over a man who was giving her directions. The victim in that incident, 80-year-old Earl Hamm, also lived in Sun City Center.

Tampa police spokesman Lt. Brian Dugan said the Sacca family had no comment.

"The Police Department supports his family during this time," Dugan said.

[Last modified January 31, 2008, 00:32:55]