Traffic accidents take 2 lives in St. Petersburg

By Times staff writers

© St. Petersburg Times, published May 10, 2000

ST. PETERSBURG -- A 19-year-old woman was thrown from her car and killed Tuesday in a four-car crash at Roosevelt Boulevard and Dr. M.L. King (Ninth) Street N, police said.

About an hour later, a second woman died a mile away when she was hit by a car while walking across Fourth Street N.

The first woman, the 19-year-old, was driving northwest on Roosevelt just before 4:45 p.m. when she tried to turn left onto Dr. M.L. King, police said. The passenger's side of her red Chrysler LeBaron was hit by an oncoming Nissan 300SX.

The impact spun the Chrysler clockwise and knocked its driver's-side door open. The woman, who wasn't wearing a seat belt, was knocked out of the Chrysler, police said. She was taken to Bayfront Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead.

Her name was withheld pending notification of relatives.

St. Petersburg police also were investigating the death of a female pedestrian shortly before 6 p.m. on Fourth Street at 93rd Avenue N.

Her name also was withheld pending notification of her family.

Bill protects committee from loss during Olympics

A bill that guarantees the U.S. Olympic Committee against losses if Tampa hosts the Olympic Games in 2012 has passed the state Legislature and awaits Gov. Jeb Bush's signature.

Florida 2012, the private organization trying to bring the Olympics to Tampa, would have to pay the first $25-million in losses under provisions of the bill. State taxpayers would pick up losses that exceed $25-million, up to a maximum of $175-million.

Bush spokesman Justin Sayfie said the governor knows of the bill but has not had a chance to review it.

Tampa is one of seven metro areas competing to be the U.S. bidder to host the Olympics in 2012. The USOC requires each to cover potential losses.

Ad manager accused of defrauding newspaper

BROOKSVILLE -- An advertising sales manager for Hernando Today faces fraud charges after, authorities say, he gave away more than $2,000 in ads for his own benefit.

James D. Kennedy, 49, of 1428 Corydon Ave. in Spring Hill, is accused of giving a $2,000 ad to Flammer Ford, 3335 Commercial Way in Spring Hill, in exchange for a down payment on a car and a $300 ad to Motorcycle Enthusiasts, 5138 Commercial Way in Spring Hill, to pay a bill for motorcycle repairs, a Hernando County sheriff's report said.

Kennedy was arrested Monday; he faces two counts of organized fraud and was released on $2,000 bail.

Tampa wins an appeal in closing of strip club

TAMPA -- Tampa has won an appeal of a judge's ruling to shut down a Ybor City strip club, a decision that city attorneys say could speed efforts to close other adult clubs that violate zoning laws.

A panel of 2nd District Court of Appeal judges on Friday upheld Hillsborough Circuit Judge James S. Moody's order last year to temporarily close Club Flamingo.

Owner Joe Redner, then a City Council candidate, chose to drop nude dancing there rather than risk a contempt of court charge. He turned Club Flamingo into NRG, another dance-and-booze club on Ybor's Seventh Avenue party strip.

Widow sues cancer center over her husband's death

TAMPA -- The widow of a WFLA-TV photographer filed suit Tuesday against H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, claiming negligence led to the death of her husband after surgery in 1998.

Bruce Breslow died four days after surgery for cancer of the tonsils. The lawsuit charges that doctors failed to properly monitor Breslow, 47, following surgery and failed to detect his heart attack after the operation.

The lawsuit was filed by Breslow's widow, Brenda Breslow, 43, as representative of his estate. Breslow also is survived by two teenagers.

"We never had clear answers about what happened," Brenda Breslow said Tuesday.

A spokesman for Moffitt declined to comment on the lawsuit.

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