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© St. Petersburg Times, published September 30, 2001
Trooper collides with vehicle making U-turn
HUDSON -- A Florida Highway Patrol trooper suffered minor injuries and his cruiser was destroyed Friday night when he collided with a 1984 Dodge making a U-turn on U.S. 19, troopers said.
Trooper Erik Hellstrom, 27, was driving north in the center lane on U.S. 19 near Maryland Avenue about 10:10 p.m., according to the accident report. Billy Joe Cutshaw, 30, of Hudson pulled into his path and their vehicles collided, troopers said. Cutshaw and his 3-year-old son, Billy, were flown to Bayfront Medical Center in St. Petersburg.
The father was in fair condition Saturday afternoon, a hospital spokesperson said. That means his vital signs are stable and within normal limits, and he has a favorable prognosis.
The 3-year-old was transferred to All Children's Hospital in St. Petersburg where he was in stable condition, a hospital spokesperson said. That means his vital signs are stable and within a normal range.
Hellstrom was treated and released from Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point, troopers said.
Troopers continued Saturday to investigate the crash.
LAND O'LAKES -- A county jail inmate faces additional charges after he flooded his cell and spit on the face of a corrections deputy, Pasco County sheriff's deputies said.
Jason Coffey, 21, of New Port Richey faces charges of simple battery on a law enforcement officer, deputies said.
Early Friday morning in his cell, No. A-304, Coffey threatened two deputies, according to his arrest report. From 2 feet away, he spit in the face of Deputy David Stahl, deputies said. The deputies had come to Coffey's cell because he had flooded it and was trying to break the light in his cell with his hands.
Coffey was already in jail on charges of introducing contraband to jail, attempted escape, dealing in stolen property and armed robbery, deputies said.
He was being held Saturday afternoon in lieu of $90,000 bail.
NEW PORT RICHEY -- A 53-year-old man died overnight Friday night after he apparently fell down an exterior flight of stairs at an abandoned house and hit his head on a log, police said.
The man, whose name police did not release Saturday, was found about 9:30 a.m. Saturday at 5743 Montana Ave., said Cpl. William Barrus of the New Port Richey police.
Police have ruled out foul play, Barrus said.