Tampa Bay briefs

By Times staff reports

© St. Petersburg Times,
published August 17, 2001

Plant City man killed when speeding truck hits utility pole

PLANT CITY -- A driver speeding along State Road 39 in eastern Hillsborough County died Thursday afternoon when his truck struck a utility pole and burst into flames, authorities said.

Tony McNally, 40, of 5735 Leonard Carlton Trail in Plant City, was trapped in his burning 1985 Chevrolet pickup truck about 4:15 p.m., the Florida Highway Patrol said.

Witnesses said as McNally's truck passed Knights-Griffin Road, a tire came apart and he lost control.

Travel agent charged with stealing from her clients

PORT RICHEY -- Edwin and Marge Dunn booked a seven-day cruise to Puerto Rico in February to celebrate their 42nd wedding anniversary. But the cruise was "kind of ruined," Edwin Dunn said, when they realized that the travel agent who booked the trip stole $1,300 from them.

On Wednesday, Pasco sheriff's deputies arrested Eileen Patricia Vargas, 46, of 7310 Country Club Drive in Hudson, who they said stole money from the Dunns and at least five others, essentially by double-charging them.

Vargas was being held on $15,000 bail at the county jail in Land O'Lakes on charges of scheming to defraud and grand theft.

2 boys charged with shooting schoolmates with pellet guns

TAMPA -- Hillsborough sheriff's deputies arrested two middle school students Thursday after the boys admitted shooting a couple of schoolmates with pellet guns, officials said.

The boys, ages 12 and 14, went to Walker Middle School in Odessa on Wednesday with the pellet guns tucked in their book bags, said sheriff's spokesman Rod Reder.

Wednesday afternoon, as they got off the bus at Fawn Creek Drive and Sheldon Road, they pulled the guns and shot two boys, Reder said. The victims, ages 11 and 12, needed no treatment.

Thursday, witnesses identified the boys, who were questioned at the school and arrested. Both guns, resembling 9mm handguns, were recovered.

The boys have been charged with aggravated battery and carrying concealed firearms on school grounds. They are not being named by the Times because of their ages.

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