Multivehicle crash leaves six injured

Two of the victims were flown to a hospital by emergency helicopters, but police said none of the injuries were life-threatening.

By CHRIS TISCH

© St. Petersburg Times, published January 30, 2001

LARGO -- A chain-reaction auto crash Monday afternoon involved five vehicles and sent six people to a hospital, two in a pair of emergency helicopters.

One of the people involved in the crash was an off-duty Largo police sergeant who had just finished her daytime patrol shift. She suffered soreness and bumps, but should be fine, Largo police said.

None of the injuries was life-threatening, though the helicopters took the two most seriously injured to Bayfront Medical Center in St. Petersburg.

The crash occurred at about 3:15 p.m. on Belcher Road at Portsmouth Road when a southbound blue 1994 Ford slammed into the back of a red Dodge Ram pickup, which was stopped at the intersection, said Largo police Lt. Michelle Smith.

The driver of the Ford, Robin Stevenson, 38, 701 Eighth Ave. N.W., and his passenger, Susan Joyce, 49, of 14300 66th St. N., were flown to Bayfront with head and chest injuries, emergency workers said.

Largo firefighters had to work for about 15 minutes to cut off the car's doors and roof to get Stevenson and Joyce out, Largo Fire Department Lt. Keith Daliendo said.

The driver of the Dodge Ram, Largo police Sgt. Melanie Holley, 43, was taken by ambulance to Bayfront. Smith said police department employees were worried when they first learned an officer was involved in the crash, but were relieved when they heard Holley, a 17-year department veteran, should be okay.

After the impact, Holley's pickup struck a gold-colored 1997 Nissan Pathfinder. The driver, Grace Lauer, 33, of 7501 142nd Ave. N, and the passenger, Lauer's niece, 13-year-old Kattie Lynn Rawles, both were taken to Largo Medical Center with minor injuries, police said.

The Pathfinder then struck a white 1993 Chrysler LeBaron driven by Suann Sheldon, 44, of 1399 S Belcher Road. She was taken by ambulance to Morton Plant Hospital with minor injuries, police said.

A fifth vehicle, a 1991 Buick driven by 81-year-old Shirley Bouge, was the last in line to be struck. She and her passenger, Edith Peterson, 29, of 7349 Ulmerton Road, did not go to the hospital, police said.

The crash snarled traffic in the area, though motorists were quick to U-turn and take detours. Police had at least one lane open in both directions within an hour after the crash.

Witness Shannon Ruffalo, 21, of Clearwater, said she was working at the Fairway Discount store when she saw the crash. She said the blue Ford rear-ended the red Dodge Ram, starting the chain reaction.

A yellow camperlike trailer was attached to the back of the Ford. The crash caused items to spill from the trailer, including a computer, a table and newspapers, she said.

"When the car hit the truck, it just went whoosh on top," Ruffalo said.

Ruffalo didn't go to the crash scene immediately. But minutes afterward, and as the medical helicopters were landing, Ruffalo received a mobile phone call that she thinks came from the woman in the blue Ford, who firefighters still were struggling to extricate.

"She said "I'm the lady in the blue car who just got in a car accident,' " Ruffalo recalled. "I could hear all the (fire) trucks so I knew it was her."

The woman said she didn't need a helicopter.

"I said, "I don't know who called it.' Then she said, "In fact, I can walk,' " Ruffalo said. "And I said "fine' and hung up."

Smith said no charges have been filed and an investigation continues, though she said Stevenson was at fault.

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