Family's day of fun ends in death of two children

The highway patrol says a truck ran a red light, killing two children returning home from a day at Busch Gardens.

By JAMIE MALERNEE

© St. Petersburg Times,
published June 6, 2001

BROOKSVILLE -- Rain poured down as Angie Conley drove home Monday night, happy and tired from spending a long day with family and friends at Busch Gardens.

Her two-way radio chirped, with her husband on the other end. He wanted to make sure everyone was all right.

"I'll be home in two minutes," she answered while approaching a red light with her four children, two nieces and a babysitter in the minivan.

Conley put down her radio and the light turned green. She headed through the intersection, never seeing the lime rock truck rumbling toward her.

The truck ran a red light, smashed into the right front of the minivan and sent it spinning, the Florida Highway Patrol said. The van hit the truck a second time, and the truck flipped.

Killed instantly were were Dylan Conley, 4, of Brooksville and his cousin Ava Newmeyer, 7, of Georgia.

"We're all still in shock," said Bryan Conley, Dylan's father. "(Ava) was fun-loving and outgoing. . . . Dylan had so much energy. He was supposed to be in a T-ball tournament this weekend. He was supposed to get a big trophy."

The crash occurred at State Road 50 and Mondon Hill Road. Locals say the intersection is notorious for accidents and red-light running by truckers.

"Another guy just ran one two minutes ago," complained John Keys, an employee of Remington Outpost, a western clothing store at the intersection.

Store owner Marguerita Carson agreed.

"I cannot tell you how many times I've called 911," she said. "This is the only (stoplight) intersection on State Road 50 that is (posted) 60 miles per hour. It should be 40."

The truck driver, Daniel Hrivnak, 27, suffered minor injuries and was released from a local hospital Monday night. He has not been charged, but authorities are still investigating. He could not be reached for comment.

The six surviving occupants of the minivan were taken to the hospital with minor injuries and later released. None had been wearing seat belts.

A 10-month-old was sitting in a child's seat but was not buckled in, FHP officials said.

The adults in the van were Conley, 29, of 8333 Idle Time Road and 21-year-old babysitter Stephanie Bortosek, also of 8333 Idle Time Road. Conley was mother to Dylan and aunt to Ava.

The surviving children in the van were Conley's three other children -- 10-month-old Jacob Conley, 8-year-old Shelly Hancock and 7-year-old Tiffany Hancock -- and Conley's other niece, Brooke Newmeyer, 8.

The Conleys have no health insurance. Angie Conley is a homemaker, and her husband owns a window-tinting business.

"I tint semi trucks for a living, so that's the ironic part," Bryan Conley said. "I don't know if I'll be able to go back to work."

Dylan's death is a crushing blow to his mother, who has built her life around her children, said relative Christie Williams. Conley had planned to take the group to Sea World and Adventure Island during her nieces' two-week visit.

News of the accident saddened neighbors in the rural area the Conleys call home. Neighbors remembered Dylan as a boy full of spunk who always drove a small electric four-wheeler up and down the street.

"He thought that four-wheeler was it. He had to show it off to everybody," recalled Cindy McReynolds. "This is just going to devastate everyone."

She and her husband, Ed, agreed that the intersection where the accident occurred is dangerous. They said everyone who lives in the area knows to be careful there; and when they hear a horn blow, that means a trucker is warning other cars that he doesn't plan to stop. "The trucks get going fast and they can't stop in time," Ed McReynolds said. "They'll go straight through."

County records show there have been 36 crashes causing almost $200,000 in damage at the intersection since 1996. None of those had been fatal, however.

Records show that one year ago, Hrivnak, the truck driver, was cited for failing to yield to a traffic sign or device in Hernando County. He agreed to go to traffic school, and a formal finding of guilt was withheld.

Conley has a driving record that includes two speeding tickets, two citations for failing to observe a traffic device, one ticket for failing to yield right of way and one for operating a motor vehicle under unsafe conditions.

An investigator employed by Hrivnak's trucking company said Hrivnak told officials that he had the green light and Conley pulled out in front of him.

"He was only on the road a couple hours, so he couldn't have been fatigued," said investigator John Reynolds. "It was raining so hard you could barely see."

On Tuesday, friends and relatives rallied behind the Conleys. They are setting up a fund for donations to cover medical and funeral expenses in lieu of flowers. Anyone interested in contributing may call relative Christie Williams at (352) 799-8848.

© 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