Two die in 4-car crash on U.S. 19

By Times staff writers

© St. Petersburg Times, published June 9, 2000

PINELLAS PARK -- Two men died and a third was critically injured Wednesday night in a four-car wreck on U.S. 19.

Steve Myrick, 52, of 4000 Fourth Ave. S., St. Petersburg, died after the 1990 Volkswagen Fox in which he was a passenger was struck by two vehicles, said Pinellas Park police Sgt. Sandy Forseth.

A fellow passenger, whom police had not identified by Thursday afternoon, also died. The driver of the Volkswagen, John Brogan, 32, of the same address as Myrick, was in critical condition Thursday at Bayfront Medical Center in St. Petersburg, Forseth said.

The chain of events began, Forseth said, when a Ford Crown Victoria driven by Kenneth Krupp, 50, of 4477 122nd Ave. N., Clearwater, attempted to cross U.S. 19 at 116th Avenue and was struck broadside. Krupp, and his passenger Jeanette Krupp, 50, of the same address, were taken to Bayfront Medical Center.

Both Krupps were in fair condition Thursday evening.

The Ford was struck by a commercial Isuzu truck driven by Curtis Kelsey, 21, of 207 Eighth Ave., No. 2, Indian Rocks Beach. Kelsey sustained injuries police described as minor. The Ford and Isuzu then spun into the oncoming lanes of U.S. 19 traffic, striking the Volkswagen and a Cadillac driven by Helen Kelliher, 65, of 1818 Shore Acres Blvd. NE, St. Petersburg. She appeared to have escaped the accident uninjured, Forseth said.

Deliberations begin in murder trial

LARGO -- Jurors began deliberating Thursday in the first-degree murder trial of Walter Lee Morris, a 28-year-old man accused of beating a toddler to death in 1997.

Prosecutors say that Morris punched 2-year-old Dustin Gee in the head and stomach and poured hot sauce in his mouth. Dustin died two days laters from the injuries.

If convicted, Morris could face the death penalty.

Defense attorneys say Dustin's mother, Kimberly S. Gee, is the one who caused the boy's death. In addition, they said, Morris and his fiancee had a toddler who was not abused.

Gee has been charged with manslaughter.

Jurors are expected to resume deliberating today.

Man robs SouthTrust Bank branch

ST. PETERSBURG -- The SouthTrust Bank at 2350 34th St. N was robbed Thursday afternoon by a man who handed a teller a threatening note, police said. No one was hurt. The robber walked out with an undisclosed amount of money about 3 p.m. Police did not have a detailed description of the suspect.

Voters to decide on term limits

TAMPA -- Tampa voters will get to decide separately in November whether eight is enough for the mayor and City Council. Council members narrowly approved referendums Thursday lifting restrictions that keep the city's elected officials from serving more than two consecutive four-year terms. Voters overwhelmingly approved amending the city charter to include term limits in 1983.

The original push for overturning term limits came from people who want to open the door for Mayor Dick Greco to run for a third term in 2003. Greco opposes term limits but has said he doesn't know whether he'll run for mayor again if he can. He will be 69 when the next election for city officials takes place.

Clinton nominates Tampa native

WASHINGTON -- Francisco J. Sanchez, a Tampa native, was nominated Thursday by President Clinton as assistant secretary for aviation and international affairs at the Transportation Department.

Sanchez, son of Delia and Francisco Sanchez of Tampa, currently serves as special assistant to the president's special envoy to the Americas, former Florida Lt. Gov. Buddy MacKay. He is a graduate of Florida State University, where he received a law degree. He also has a master's degree in public administration from Harvard University.

Before joining MacKay's office last year, Sanchez was a senior consultant for Conflict Management Inc. and managing director of CMI International Group, both in Cambridge, Mass.

He previously worked as an associate for Steel Hector & Davis, a Florida law firm.

Sanchez's nomination requires confirmation by the Senate.

Judge nominated for federal bench

President Clinton on Thursday nominated Hillsborough Circuit Judge James S. Moody Jr. for a federal judgeship.

Moody, a 53-year-old Plant City native, said Thursday he was excited by the news and added, "It feels great to reach this particular official step."

Moody's name now moves to the U.S. Senate for confirmation.

Moody has been a circuit judge for five years. He attended college and law school at the University of Florida. In 1987, he served as president of the Hillsborough County Bar Association.

Moody is the third of four candidates to be nominated this week by the president for new judicial positions in Central Florida's busy federal courts. Other nominees include Orlando-area lawyer Gregory A. Presnell, and John E. Steele, a federal magistrate in Jacksonville.

The first man confirmed by the Senate is expected to occupy a new judgeship in Fort Myers. The others would occupy new positions in Tampa, Orlando and Jacksonville.

Where each new judge would serve depends on their confirmations and on the rules of judicial seniority for choosing locations.

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