Accident report

By MARY ELMORE

© St. Petersburg Times, published January 7, 2001

1. DALE MABRY HIGHWAY AT BEARSS AVENUE, DEC. 22, 12:04 P.M.: A southbound 1997 Acura rear-ended a 1993 Ford van after traffic stopped suddenly. The Acura driver, a 33-year-old woman, was charged with careless driving.

2. COMMUNITY CAMPUS DRIVE AT GUNN HIGHWAY, DEC. 22, 4:30 P.M.: The owner of a 1999 Chevrolet van thought his vehicle was in park when it began to roll backward as he exited to help a passenger out of the vehicle and into a wheelchair. The open passenger door hit the wheelchair and knocked it over. The owner yelled for help and a witness jumped into the vehicle and put it in park. 3. WATERS AVENUE AT COUNTRYWAY BOULEVARD, DEC. 22, 4:35 P.M.: A westbound 1996 Dodge van failed to observe a stop sign and hit a northbound 2000 Nissan. The Nissan spun counter clockwise and sideswiped the left side of the Dodge. Both drivers complained of pain and refused treatment at the scene. The Dodge driver, a 19-year-old woman, was charged with violation of a traffic control device.

4. BRUCE B DOWNS BOULEVARD AT DONA MICHELLE, DEC. 22, 5:25 P.M.: A northbound 1997 Toyota rear-ended a 2000 Toyota stopped for traffic. The Toyota driver, an 18-year-old man, was charged with careless driving.

5. MORRIS BRIDGE ROAD AT FOWLER AVENUE, DEC. 22, 6:18 P.M.: A northbound 1986 Chevrolet truck failed to make a left turn around a curve, went off the road and hit a metal fence. The driver left without providing information and the vehicle was towed.

6. BRUCE B. DOWNS BOULEVARD AT FLETCHER AVENUE, DEC. 23, 9:20 P.M.: A southbound 1996 Ford in the right lane hit the right side of a northbound 1995 Dodge van that was making a left turn. There were no charges due to conflicting statements. A passenger in the Dodge, a 69-year-old woman, was taken to University Community Hospital.

7. AMBERLY DRIVE AT TURNBURY WOOD DRIVE, DEC. 24, 12:50 P.M.: A 39-year-old woman was headed south in a 2000 Mercury when her high-heel shoe jammed in the accelerator, causing her to increase speed, hit an oak tree, sideswipe two other trees and flip. She was taken to University Community Hospital.

8. LUTZ LAKE FERN ROAD AT LAKE ALLEN DRIVE, DEC. 26, 4:50 A.M.: An eastbound 1999 Ford truck lost control, left the road and hit a street sign, a small brick wall and an electric pole head-on. The driver, a 16-year-old boy, fled on foot to his residence half a mile away. His mother called EMS for medical assistance with non life-threatening injuries. He was charged with leaving the scene with property damage and taken to St. Joseph's Hospital.

9. BEARSS AVENUE AT LAKE EMERALD BOULEVARD, DEC. 26, 10:30 A.M.: A westbound 1988 American truck skidded and rear-ended a 2001 Ford truck in a construction zone. The American truck driver, was charged with careless driving.

10. INTERSTATE 275 AT BEARSS AVENUE, DEC. 26, 11:30 A.M.: A southbound 2000 Chevrolet truck changed lanes in front of a 1994 Acura. The driver of the Acura, a 40-year-old man, swerved off the road and hit a motorist call box with its front and right side. The Chevrolet left the scene. A witness obtained a tag number so the investigation is not complete.

11. NEBRASKA AVENUE AT FLORIDA AVENUE, DEC. 26, 12:13 P.M.: A northbound 1989 Oldsmobile crossed over a concrete median and drove north in the southbound lanes toward a 1995 Nissan. The Nissan driver, a 41-year-old woman, saw the Oldsmobile coming and tried to avoid it by driving toward the right curb. The Oldsmobile hit the left side of the Nissan and continued driving without a left front tire approximately 733 feet before stopping. The Oldsmobile driver, a 69-year-old man, was charged with driving with a suspended license and driving on the wrong side of the road. The injured were taken to St. Joseph's Hospital. 12. ANDERSON ROAD AT CEDAR CREEK BOULEVARD, DEC. 26, 7:30 P.M.: A southbound 1995 Ford truck was changing lanes when a 54-year-old man stepped out in front of the Ford. The Ford driver, a 20-year-old man, hit the brakes but was unable to avoid hitting him with the left front of the vehicle. The pedestrian was taken to University Community Hospital.

13. LUTZ LAKE FERN ROAD AT SUNLAKE BOULEVARD, DEC. 27, 8:05 P.M.: A westbound 2000 BMW rear-ended a 1993 Pontiac. The Pontiac driver, a 47-year-old man, was slowing for a stopped vehicle that was making a left turn in front of him. The Pontiac was pushed off the road and hit two mailboxes. Both drivers reported minor pains.

14. BRUCE B. DOWNS BOULEVARD AT 131ST AVENUE, DEC. 28, 6:06 P.M.: A southbound 1999 Chrysler van turned left into the path of a northbound 1987 Honda. The Honda swerved and hit the brakes to avoid the Chrysler. The Chrysler driver, a 48-year-old woman, was charged with failure to yield right of way. The Honda driver, a 19-year-old woman, was taken to University Community Hospital.

15. FLETCHER AVENUE AT FLORIDA AVENUE, DEC. 28, 6:56 P.M.: A southbound 1991 Saturn made an improper U-turn violating the red traffic light and turned into the path of a westbound 1998 Toyota causing the Toyota to hit the rear of the Saturn. The Saturn driver, a 33-year-old woman, left and was positively identified by a witness. She was arrested and charged with leaving the scene of an accident with property damage, violation of a traffic control device, tag attached not assigned and driving with a suspended license.

16. CARROLLWOOD SPRINGS ROAD AT DALE MABRY HIGHWAY, DEC. 28, 2:20 P.M.: An eastbound 1999 Honda rear-ended a 1996 Honda. The 1999 Honda driver, an 18-year-old woman, said she thought the car ahead of her had gone. She was charged with careless driving.

© 2006 • All Rights Reserved • Tampa Bay Times
490 First Avenue South • St. Petersburg, FL 33701 • 727-893-8111

Contact the Times | Privacy Policy
Standard of Accuracy | Terms, Conditions & Copyright