Storm delays planes, starts fire at TIA

By Times staff writer

© St. Petersburg Times, published July 5, 2000

TAMPA -- A lightning storm set off a small grass fire along a runway at Tampa International Airport on Tuesday night and delayed flights for hundreds of passengers, airport officials said.

The powerful storm, which hovered over TIA for about 30 minutes Tuesday, caused lights inside the terminal to flicker momentarily, assistant director of operations Daniel Prather said.

Airlines temporarily diverted airplanes until the storm cleared and kept personnel who work on the runway indoors.

A lightning bolt set off the fire near Runway 36, which runs parallel to the Veterans Expressway, around 7:50 p.m., Prather said. Two trucks from TIA's fire department responded to the blaze, but heavy rain put the fire out within a few minutes, he said.

Senate hopefuls to debate senior issues

Insurance Commissioner Bill Nelson and U.S. Rep. Bill McCollum, the Democratic and Republican candidates for U.S. Senate, will discuss their positions on Social Security, Medicare and other senior issues at a forum Thursday in Tampa.

The forum runs from 10 a.m. to noon at the Tampa Marriott Westshore, 1001 N West Shore Blvd. and is open to the public.

It is sponsored by the Tallahassee-based advocacy group, Aging with Dignity.

Woman killed in crash with truck hauler

SEFFNER -- A 30-year-old woman who lived near Lakeland died early Tuesday after another vehicle pulled in front of her Ford Aerostar van, authorities said.

Brenda G. Murphee was driving south on Williams Road just after 3:10 a.m. when a Freightliner truck hauler pulled in front of her at Armitage Road, according to the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office.

Murphee, of Kathleen, died at the scene. The accident is under investigation, and no charges have been filed against the driver of the truck hauler, 45-year-old Vincent Janwinski of Seffner.

Boy hit by car while riding bike dies

CLEARWATER -- An 11-year-old boy who was hit by a car while riding his bike last weekend died Monday evening.

Adrian Anderson was trying to cross Drew Street near his home about 1 p.m. Sunday when he was hit by a 1990 Oldsmobile, police said.

He died at 6:40 p.m. Monday at All Children's Hospital in St. Petersburg, hospital spokeswoman Cindy Rose said.

Adrian's family declined comment Tuesday.

The driver in the accident, 83-year-old Bernard Stanton of Clearwater, was not charged.

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