3 cars strike, kill pedestrian

The Spring Hill woman stepped onto U.S. 19, troopers say.

By LOGAN NEILL, Times Staff Writer
Published February 7, 2008

WEEKI WACHEE - A 69-year-old Weeki Wachee woman was struck by three cars and killed while trying to cross U.S. 19 on Tuesday night, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

Maureen L. Keel, 5003 Plumosa St., was standing on the median about 7 p.m. when she started to cross U.S. 19 near William Street, according to the FHP. Keel stepped onto the highway and was struck by the left side of a northbound 1993 Jeep driven by 86-year-old Homer Cantrell of Tallahassee.

The impact sent Keel into the road's outside lanes, where she was struck again by a Cadillac El Dorado and a Nissan Maxima. She died at the scene. Kantrell and the other two drivers, who the FHP did not identify, were not injured.

During the early 1990s, Keel served as supervisor of the department of substance abuse at the Hernando County Mental Health Center. She was also a member of the 1992 Class of Leadership Hernando and served two terms as president of the Business and Professional Women's Club of Hernando County.

FHP said no charges have been filed.

Logan Neill can be reached at lneill@sptimes or 848-1435.

[Last modified February 6, 2008, 20:04:15]