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By Times staff writer
© St. Petersburg Times, published May 6, 2001
ST. PETERSBURG -- A 5-year-old boy playing football with a friend at the Smooth Jazz on the Bay festival Saturday was run over by a motorized vendor's cart and suffered minor injuries, authorities said.
Ian Dennis of St. Petersburg was attending the festival at Vinoy Park with his parents when the accident happened about 6:30 p.m., said St. Petersburg Police Officer Scott Pierce.
The cart, which Pierce described as a four-wheeled, golf cart-style vehicle, was being driven by Philip Alessi Jr., 33, of Tampa, who was delivering lemonade. Alessi, said Pierce, is a member of the Alessi family that runs a restaurant at The Pier.
Pierce said the boy was going long for a pass, and Alessi was looking in the other direction when they collided. The boy suffered minor scrapes and bruises and was taken to Bayfront Medical Center, said Pierce, who added that the child was expected to be released Saturday night.
No charges had been filed Saturday night, and the investigation was continuing.