Bus-stop crash takes a life

Twice in a day, a vehicle veers to the right of a bus and strikes a bus-stop sign. The second time a passenger is killed.

By CHRIS TISCH

© St. Petersburg Times,
published June 5, 2001

Graphic: How it happened

CLEARWATER -- Several times a day, the transit bus pulls up to the bench on U.S. 19, just south of Belleair Road.

Passengers exit, some to shop for fresh fruit at Orange Blossom Groves, after the bus stops along the shoulder in the far right southbound lane.

On Monday morning, a sport utility vehicle whipped past the right side of the bus, narrowly missing passengers and bending the bus-stop sign.

Three hours later, the scene replayed itself. But this time, it was more than just a close call.

A silver Ford Crown Victoria veered to the right of the stopped bus, striking Ninel Simonova, 61, as she stepped off. The car plowed through the bus stop, blasting apart a wood and concrete bench and smashing the battered bus-stop sign.

The car stopped about 30 feet down the shoulder after striking a guardrail.

Simonova, a Russian immigrant who had moved to Clearwater about three years ago, was taken to Morton Plant Hospital, where she was pronounced dead 40 minutes after the 12:20 p.m. crash.

The driver of the silver Ford, 89-year-old Clearwater resident Dorotha J. Vettel, also was taken to Morton Plant Hospital, where she was admitted Monday evening in fair condition.

Troopers were trying to figure out what caused Vettel to swerve to the right of the bus. Vettel said she was cut off and forced off the road, but troopers were unable to determine Monday if that's what really happened, said Lt. Sterling King.

No charges had been filed in connection with the crash, but the investigation was still open, said highway patrol Cpl. Jim Atwood.

"The bus didn't do anything wrong," Atwood said.

Transit officials said there were eight people on board the bus. Atwood said there was a "multitude of witnesses," the majority of whom said nothing about anyone cutting off the silver Ford.

Vettel was not available for an interview at the hospital on Monday evening, said hospital spokeswoman Angie Antonopoulos. No one answered the phone at Vettel's residence.

Florida records show Vettel has had a Florida driver's license since 1983. There are no records of her being involved in any accidents since then.

Orange Blossom Groves employee Maria Clara Fuentes was at the register when the crash occurred.

"I saw the car coming very fast," she said.

Fuentes said Simonova was thrown onto the grass on the side of the road. Papers she was carrying fluttered through the air after the impact, Fuentes said.

Simonova's son-in-law, Vladimir Koz, said she had been attending English lessons at a school in Clearwater on Monday morning. He said she probably was going to Orange Blossom Groves to buy fresh fruit when she was killed.

Koz said Simonova's daughter, Olga, had come to the United States about six years ago. The couple had a daughter, Anna, about three years ago. Simonova longed to be with them, so she came to Florida shortly after the child's birth.

Koz said his wife and daughter were devastated Monday. They were seeking more answers.

"All her life was her granddaughter and daughter," Koz said.

He said Simonova was applying for a green card and wanted next to obtain citizenship. She had lived with her daughter's family, then found her own apartment in Clearwater.

Orange Blossom Groves employees said the bus stop has been there as long as they can remember. A similar crash occurred last summer when a car also smashed the bench.

"People just go too fast on this road," said employee Sandy Vetter.

The Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority hasn't had problems at that bus stop, said Janet Recca, the authority's marketing director.

"This is just a fluke. I really can't understand it," she said. "We've never had a problem like this before."

Recca said there were no bus-accident records available for that stop. She said all stops have to meet strict state safety guidelines.

"We're very cautious to make sure that we follow safety regulations," she said. "That's why we really don't experience many problems."

Orange Blossom Groves office manager April Groth said customers and employees use the bus.

"That's bizarre, it happening twice in one day," she said. "Now there's no sign, no bench, no bus stop. Two in one day is enough."

- Times researcher Caryn Baird contributed to this report. Staff writer Chris Tisch can be reached at (727) 445-4156.

© 2006 • All Rights Reserved • St. Petersburg Times
490 First Avenue South • St. Petersburg, FL 33701 • 727-893-8111

Contact the Times | Privacy Policy
Standard of Accuracy | Terms, Conditions & Copyright