TAMPA -- With the retirement of one judge in a sexual harassment scandal, the appointment of two others to the federal bench and the death of a fourth, Hillsborough's circuit bench has been plagued with vacancies. The governor's office filled one of them Friday, elevating Hillsborough County Judge Marva Crenshaw to the circuit bench.

"I'm, needless to say, excited," Crenshaw, 48, said Friday.

Crenshaw, who in 1989 became the first black woman appointed to the Hillsborough County bench, joins Circuit Judge Perry Little as one of two black circuit judges.

Crenshaw will fill the seat vacated by former Circuit Judge James Whittemore, who was appointed to the federal bench in May.

Parents of boy who died in bus stop mix-up file suit

ODESSA -- The parents of a 10-year-old boy struck and killed by a motorist after being dropped off at the wrong bus stop 5 miles from home have filed a lawsuit against the school district and the bus driver.

In the wrongful death lawsuit filed Thursday, Kimberly and David Martin accuse the Hillsborough County school district and bus driver Linda Moore of negligence. They contend Moore should have become aware of errors in the route.

Eric Martin had finished the first day of an after-school tutoring program at Walker Middle School last October when the sixth-grader was fatally struck by a car at 7:25 p.m. as he tried to cross a heavily traveled road with no sidewalks about 2 miles from home.

But school officials say Eric didn't get off at his stop and asked to be let off the bus four stops later. Moore, who was not familiar with the route, has said she questioned him twice before she drove away and that he said he lived nearby.

School spokesman Mark Hart would not comment on pending litigation, but an internal investigation last fall found that Moore was not at fault in the boy's death.

Children who were hurt in crash leave hospital

ST. PETERSBURG -- At least three of four children injured in a car crash Wednesday at 31st Street S and 54th Avenue S have gone home from the hospital.

Corey Smith Jr., 10, Shaquille Sampson, 6, and Hakeem Gordon, 5, have left Bayfront Medical Center. The hospital could provide no information on the fourth child, Sakella Jackson, 9.

The children were injured Wednesday as they sat in the back seat of a stalled Cadillac in the southbound lane of 31st Street S. The Cadillac's driver, Jackie P. Gordon, 30, was standing outside the car with the hood up and the hazard lights on.

A Dodge Diplomat hit the rear of the Cadillac so hard it smashed the trunk into the back seat, police said.

The Dodge's driver -- Deborah J. Grondin, 48, of St. Petersburg -- said a bee stung her moments before the crash. No charges have been filed.

Uhuru group looking into FHP's pursuit of stolen car

ST. PETERSBURG -- Two girls injured in a fatal crash in a stolen car remain in Bayfront Medical Center.

Nikia Truitt, the 13-year-old rear seat passenger, was in fair condition, recovering from hip and arm surgery. Shumeca Keio Hall, the 14-year-old front seat passenger, is in critical condition with severe head injuries. She remains heavily sedated, authorities said.

As the Florida Highway Patrol continues investigating whether a trooper violated the agency's pursuit policy, the National People's Democratic Uhuru Movement said it is conducting its own inquiry.

"We're not pointing fingers in any one direction," Uhuru president Delores Fletcher said Friday. "We just value the life of our teens and especially children of school age."

The driver of a stolen Lexus, 16-year-old Elizabeth Diane Smith, was killed Tuesday when the car she was driving collided with a dump truck while speeding away from the trooper. Police say the girls in the accident are the ones who stole the car.

Electrical storm shuts down post office

ST. PETERSBURG -- The post office in downtown St. Petersburg was closed Friday after an electrical storm knocked out power to the building overnight.

Signs at the open air postal station, 76 Fourth St. N, referred customers to the city's main post office at 3135 First Ave. N.

Postal officials said the open air station would reopen Monday.

Boy hurt at Sunshine Speedway released

PINELLAS PARK -- A 4-year-old Largo boy hit by a pickup truck Wednesday evening at the Sunshine Speedway has been released from the hospital.

Antonio Denny of Largo has been discharged from Bayfront Medical Center.

His mother, Dawn McNeill, said Friday that Antonio had two cracked ribs and was bruised from head to toe but that he would be fine.

McNeill's boyfriend, Charles Small Jr., 24, of Largo, was leaving the racetrack at 4550 Ulmerton Road on Wednesday when he stopped his truck to talk to McNeill and her son.

As Small pulled out, he hit the child, police said.

He will not be charged.

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