Three injured in U.S. 19 wreck

By MATTHEW WAITE

© St. Petersburg Times, published March 21, 2000

HOLIDAY -- Havalampos Savupoulos saw his death Monday evening on U.S. 19.

"When I saw that car pull out in front of me, I saw death," the 29-year-old said.

Savupoulos was slightly injured in a crash when his Nissan 1995 Maxima struck a late model Chrysler Cirrus around 7:30 p.m. He paced around the accident scene at U.S. 19 and Alt. U.S. 19 wincing from pains in his chest, shoulders and legs. He said his life was saved by his seat belt.

Two people in the Cirrus were flown to area hospitals. A woman in Savupoulos' car also was flown to a hospital. Florida Highway Patrol officers said the injuries were not life-threatening.

Witnesses said Savupoulos was heading south on U.S. 19 when the Cirrus made a left turn attempting to get on Alt. U.S. 19.

"I slammed on my brakes and I still hit them," Savupoulos said.

Waiting to turn north onto U.S. 19 were John and Christina Kovacs.

"We had just pulled up to the light and my wife yelled, "Oh my god,' " John Kovacs said. "And then we saw stuff flying."

Savupoulos said he would go to a hospital when the report on the accident was finished. His friend, Heath Williams, was in the car but uninjured.

The Kovacses drove off counting their blessings. "That's as close as I want to get to them (accidents)," John Kovacs said.

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