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By Times staff reports
© St. Petersburg Times, published June 30, 2001
Man who died in collision named; others in hospital
TAMPA -- The motorist who died Thursday night in a crash on Gandy Boulevard was identified Friday as 18-year-old George Conda of Tampa.
Investigators said Conda, of 4407 W Azeele St., hit the brakes on his 1998 Ford Explorer while driving westbound on Gandy during a 6 p.m. thunderstorm. Water on his tires caused the vehicle to spin across the median into oncoming eastbound traffic just across from the Imperial Yacht Center.
Conda's SUV was hit broadside by a Dodge Durango driven by Timothy Rosier, 48, of 2101 N Dundee Street in Tampa. Rosier and his wife, 45-year-old Cynthia Rosier, were in fair condition Friday in Tampa General Hospital.
One person was killed late Friday afternoon in a traffic accident on the Sunshine Skyway bridge, authorities said.
At least two cars collided about 6:30 p.m. in the southbound lanes on the Manatee County end of the Skyway, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
Further information wasn't immediately available. The accident caused traffic delays during rush hour as southbound vehicles were routed through a rest area.
LARGO -- A 45-year-old man was critically burned in an apartment fire Friday evening when he inhaled superheated air, firefighters said.
Randy Schecter was flown to Bayfront Medical Center, where he was being treated Friday.
The fire started about 7:15 p.m. in a small apartment complex at 610 West Bay Drive.
Schecter inhaled smoke and hot air and was critically burned in his upper airways, said District Chief Pat McGinley of the Largo Fire Department. The cause of the fire was under investigation.
The Florida Supreme Court will hear oral arguments Aug. 29 on another appeal from three Pinellas County constitutional officers who are trying to overturn term limits.
In November 1996, 72 percent of Pinellas voters approved a referendum limiting county commissioners and constitutional officers -- sheriff, clerk of court, tax collector, property appraiser and elections supervisor -- to two consecutive four-year terms.
Three lower courts have upheld the ruling, but Tax Collector W. Fred Petty, Sheriff Everett Rice and Clerk of the Court Karleen De Blaker appealed to the Supreme Court.
The County Commission, Supervisor of Elections Deborah Clark and Property Appraiser Jim Smith did not join the appeal.