Drivers happily surprised at Expressway tolls

Times staff writer

© St. Petersburg Times, published March 5, 2000

TAMPA -- Drivers on the Veterans Expressway got a pleasant surprise Saturday at a couple of the toll booths: a free pass, courtesy of Budweiser.

Budweiser was filming a commercial along the northernmost stretches of the Expressway. The action was taking place in a bus rigged with enormous lights and filled with young actors.

The commercial is destined for airing in Quebec.

In return for the occasional delays, Budweiser picked up all tolls at the Erlich Road and Hutchison Road exits.

Filming along the expressway is to continue today, and the tolls will again be paid by Budweiser.

Man dies after motorcycle strikes car on highway

TAMPA -- The driver of a 1997 Suzuki 750 motorcycle died Friday night after hitting the left side of a car pulling out of a Burger King parking lot.

Almonte Braulio, 29, of 3407 Danny Bryan Boulevard in unincorporated Hillsborough County, died at the scene about 10:15 p.m., said Sheriff's Sgt. Rod Reder.

Reder said Braulio was traveling west on Gunn Highway just north of Anderson Road when Reena Diwadkar, 16, of 6915 Arabian Road in Odessa pulled her 2000 Infinity out of the Burger King parking lot to turn south on Gunn.

A van in the outside lane of Gunn obscured her vision of the motorcycle, which crashed into her car.

Reder said drugs and alcohol are suspected to be factors in Braulio's crash. Diwadkar was not injured or ticketed.

Blind 2-year-old falls 2 stories, not injured

A blind 2-year-old fell off a second-floor patio Saturday afternoon but came away without apparent injury.

Fyriss Miguel and his mother, Cara Vasquez, were sitting on the patio of their apartment at 931 Palm Bay Drive in Palm River about 4 p.m. The child fell through one of the gaps between the metal balusters of the patio railing, which are more than 7 inches apart, said Hillsborough Sheriff's Sgt. Rod Reder.

"The child just easily slipped through," said Reder.

Fyriss hit a patch of sand and grass below the patio. He was taken to Tampa General Hospital, where he was listed in fair condition Saturday night.

Reder said the child suffered no apparent injuries, but hospital staffers were examining him closely.

Woman dead in pool; no foul play suspected

TAMPA -- A woman was found dead in her swimming pool early Saturday morning in the Bayport subdivision west of Town 'N Country. Relatives discovered Peiwei Chow, 43, floating in her pool at 6111 Schooner Way about 6:30 a.m. Saturday, sheriff's Sgt. Rod Reder said. Detectives are investigating but do not suspect foul play.

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