FHP: Man who died in pond crash suffered ‘medical episode’

May 24, 2013 By Leave a Comment

A Kissimmee man who died early Friday after driving his sedan into an Osceola County retention pond suffered from a medical problem before the crash.

By Jerriann Sullivan, Orlando Sentinel

12:46 p.m. EDT, May 24, 2013

A Kissimmee man who died early Friday after driving his sedan into an Osceola County retention pond suffered from a medical problem before the crash.

Jose Soto Maisonet, 39, was driving a 1994 Honda Accord north on John Young Parkway, approaching Osceola Parkway, at about 1 a.m. and attempted to make a left turn onto westbound Osceola Parkway, Florida Highway Patrol said.

The vehicle traveled northwest onto the shoulder of the road and into a retention pond at the intersection, an FHP report said.

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Troopers are not sure what caused the crash, but learned that Maisonet had “severe medical issues” and believes he “suffered a medical episode” prior to crashing.

Television stations reported that a witness saw Maisonet on his cellphone prior to the crash, but the Osceola County Sheriff’s office said it did not receive a 911 call from the victim. FHP said the witnesses they spoke with did not see the driver using his cell phone.

Deputies did receive four 911 calls from bystanders, including an unidentified woman who began crying watching the sedan sink while waiting for rescue officials to show up.

“Oh my God, it’s gone,” she shouted. “Somebody help!”

The Kissimmee Fire and Rescue dive team had to remove the victim from the vehicle, FHP said. He died at the scene.

An investigation is ongoing.

jesullivan@tribune.com or 407-420-5620

Article source: http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/os-kissimmee-pond-crash-20130524,0,6824957.story

Filed Under: Orlando Tagged With:

Bicyclist in Tampa hit-and-run dies

May 24, 2013 By Leave a Comment

TAMPA – 

A bicyclist hit by a pick-up truck Thursday morning has died as a result of his injuries.

According to Tampa Police, Freddie Alonso, 45, was riding a bicycle southbound on Tampania. He failed to stop at the stop sign at West Lemon Street and was struck by a pick-up truck travelling eastbound, police say.

The victim was ejected onto the roadway. The driver fled without stopping, leaving eastbound from the scene. 

Alonso was transported to Tampa General Hospital where he later died. One witness described a dark garnet red pearl, full-size pickup truck, possibly a Dodge. 

Police say the color of the truck was only manufactured in 2000 and 2001 (the photograph is a similar looking vehicle). Another witness described a maroon full size pick-up truck.  The truck will have hood and grill damage.

If you see a truck matching this description, please call Tampa Police at 813-231-6130 or Crime Stoppers to be eligible for a $1,000 reward.

Article source: http://www.baynews9.com/content/news/baynews9/news/article.html/content/news/articles/bn9/2013/5/24/bicyclist_in_tampa_h.html

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QEW crash could boost case for mid-pen highway

May 24, 2013 By Leave a Comment

The traffic havoc that paralyzed much of St. Catharines Thursday is a familiar sight to Grimsby’s Mayor – and a case against a single, bigger highway.

Bob Bentley said serious crashes like the fatal collision that shut down the Toronto-bound Queen Elizabeth Way make the case against widening the highway as the key piece of Niagara’s transit future. Though tragic, it highlights the case against widening – and for an alternate route like the oft-discussed southern highway, the mid-peninsula corridor.

When highway crashes happen in Grimsby, he said, the entire volume of the QEW detours through the town’s residential neighbourhoods.

“It’s a bottleneck and it’s going to be the same as the Mississauga area or the Oakville area or thereabouts. They’re a parking lot every day,” he said.

The Ministry of Transportation’s long-term transit plans include an eight-lane Queen Elizabeth Way. But the Region eventually wants a new southern highway, primarily for trucks.

Just sticking with a widened QEW, Bentley said, “leaves not only the local municipalities and the Niagara area, but the whole economy in peril.” That’s because it cuts off the only route for just-in-time trucks to make it to the border fast.

Joe Cousins, the Region’s transportation director, said the crash Thursday – which killed two men – was the collision many dreaded.

“That was sort of the worst-case situation of what the mayors of Lincoln and Grimsby have said for years,” he said.

“There really are no logical alternatives. The local road system can’t handle that type of volume.”

St. Catharines Mayor Brian McMullan said the crash was tragic, but worse because of its location. He said those collisions don’t happen often.

“To say that an accident at 4 a.m. is a reason to build a billion-dollar highway, I just don’t know if there’s a correlation between the two,” he said.

Ultimately, he said, people did take alternate routes. He said it took longer but they did get where they wanted to go.

In the long-term, he said, there’s general support for a new highway. But for now he said the Region is embracing an interim move of extending Highway 406 along Netherby Road to the QEW near Fort Erie.

Cousins said the traffic woes were worsened because the Allanburg Bridge is unavailable and part of Regional Road 81 is under construction.

The Region tried to ease the traffic by fiddling remotely with traffic light timing in the Fourth Ave. corridor, he said. But the traffic jams slowed down Region workers as they tried to get to key locations.

He said the Region wasn’t notified of the accident until 7 a.m.

A mid-pen highway would be aimed at trucks. Still, he said, “it does provide an alternate route in case of an event like yesterday’s incident.”

Regional Chair Gary Burroughs said a crash like Thursday’s would become part of the Region’s case for a mid-peninsula highway.

“Unfortunately, it’s like storms,” he said. “What we used to talk about is one in 100. Now it’s more frequent.”

Article source: http://www.niagarafallsreview.ca/2013/05/10/qew-crash-could-boost-case-for-mid-pen-highway

Filed Under: I4 Accident News

Tampa woman killed in I-75 crash in Pasco

May 24, 2013 By Leave a Comment

WESLEY CHAPEL

Female pedestrian hit, killed by car on I-75

A 22-year-old Tampa woman was killed when she was hit by a vehicle on Interstate 75 Thursday.

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Kerry Rose Ruiz was pronounced dead at the scene midway between State Road 52 and SR 54 about 3:25 p.m., Florida Highway Patrol troopers reported. Troopers said Ruiz had parked at the side of the interstate when she ran into the path of a northbound vehicle, which hit her.

Troopers said no charges will be filed against the driver, Sarmad Joseph Jamil, 36, of Gilbert, Ariz.

Article source: http://www.tampabay.com/news/publicsafety/fhp-closes-northbound-i-75-in-pasco-diverts-traffic-to-sr-54-after-fatal/2122667

Filed Under: Tampa Tagged With:

Tampa woman killed in I-75 crash in Pasco

May 24, 2013 By Leave a Comment

WESLEY CHAPEL

Female pedestrian hit, killed by car on I-75

A 22-year-old Tampa woman was killed when she was hit by a vehicle on Interstate 75 Thursday.

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Kerry Rose Ruiz was pronounced dead at the scene midway between State Road 52 and SR 54 about 3:25 p.m., Florida Highway Patrol troopers reported. Troopers said Ruiz had parked at the side of the interstate when she ran into the path of a northbound vehicle, which hit her.

Troopers said no charges will be filed against the driver, Sarmad Joseph Jamil, 36, of Gilbert, Ariz.

Article source: http://www.tampabay.com/news/publicsafety/fhp-closes-northbound-i-75-in-pasco-diverts-traffic-to-sr-54-after-fatal/2122667

Filed Under: Tampa Tagged With:

Bicyclist hurt in hit-and-run accident in Tampa

May 23, 2013 By Leave a Comment

TAMPA — Officers were searching Thursday for a hit-and-run driver who crashed into a bicyclist and sped away, police said.

The crash was reported about 7:40 a.m. near N Tampania and W Lemon Streets.

Freddie J. Alonso, 44, was riding a bicycle south on Tampania Street when he didn’t stop at a stop sign at W Lemon Street and was struck by a pickup, Tampa police said.

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The impact threw Alonso off the bicycle. The driver continued eastbound.

Alonso was taken to Tampa General Hospital, where he was listed in critical condition with a head injury Thursday afternoon.

A witness described the truck as a full-sized pickup, possibly a Dodge, in a “dark garnet” color. Another witness described it as a maroon color. The driver was described as balding, thin build and in his 40s.

Anyone with information is asked to call Tampa police at (813)231-6130.

Crime Stoppers is also offering a $1,000 reward for any information.

Article source: http://www.tampabay.com/news/publicsafety/crime/police-searching-for-hit-and-run-driver-in-tampa/2122644

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Fatal crash closes northbound I-75 in Pasco

May 23, 2013 By Leave a Comment

A female pedestrian was struck and killed this afternoon on Interstate 75 in Pasco County, and the accident closed the northbound lanes past State Road 54 for a several hours, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

About 3:30 p.m., Kerry Rose Ruiz, 22, of Tampa was standing at the right front of her vehicle, which was parked with its hazard flashing lights activated, facing north on the east shoulder of I-75, FHP said. For an unknown reason, she ran into the path of a 2012 Isuzu NPR driven by Sarmad Joseph Jamil, 36, of Gilbert, Ariz., FHP said. The Isuzu was towing a boat at the time.

Jamil tried to avoid striking Ruiz, but was unable to, FHP said, and the Isuzu also struck the right side of a 2009 Acura TSX driven by Ashley Fields, 26, of Largo.

Ruiz died at the scene, FHP said.

Neither Jamil nor Fields were injured, FHP said. No charges have been filed, and an investigation is continuing.

I-75 was reopened about 6:20 p.m.

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Article source: http://tbo.com/pasco-county/fatal-crash-closes-northbound-i--in-pasco-b82495603z1

Filed Under: Tampa Tagged With:

Osceola couple identified by FHP as crash deaths

May 23, 2013 By Leave a Comment

An Osceola County couple was identified Thursday as the victims of a fiery weekend crash near Poinciana, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

Ramon Martinez, 67, and his wife, Awilda Martinez, 65, of Kissmimee died about 3:40 p.m. Sunday after their SUV crashed on Cypress Parkway, according to FHP.

The Martinezes were driving eastbound near Dover Plum Avenue when their 2010 Ford vehicle ran off the road for unknown reason, struck a tree and caught fire.

The crash remains under investigation.

Hcurtis@tribune.com or 407-420-5257.

Article source: http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/breakingnews/os-osceola-crash-deaths-fhp-20130523,0,3099719.story

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Police searching for hit and run driver in Tampa

May 23, 2013 By Leave a Comment

TAMPA — Officers were searching Thursday for a hit-and-run driver who crashed into a bicyclist and sped away, police said.

The crash was reported about 7:40 a.m. near N Tampania and W Lemon Streets.

Freddie J. Alonso, 44, was riding a bicycle south on Tampania Street when he didn’t stop at a stop sign at W Lemon Street and was struck by a pickup, Tampa police said.

Related News/Archive

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The impact threw Alonso off the bicycle. The driver continued eastbound.

Alonso was taken to Tampa General Hospital, where he was listed in critical condition with a head injury Thursday afternoon.

A witness described the truck as a full-sized pickup, possibly a Dodge, in a “dark garnet” color. Another witness described it as a maroon color. The driver was described as balding, thin build and in his 40s.

Anyone with information is asked to call Tampa police at (813)231-6130.

Crime Stoppers is also offering a $1,000 reward for any information.

Article source: http://www.tampabay.com/news/publicsafety/crime/police-searching-for-hit-and-run-driver-in-tampa/2122644

Filed Under: Tampa Tagged With:

NTSB Releases More Information In Train Crash that Killed 4 Veterans 5/22/13

May 23, 2013 By Leave a Comment

NTSB Releases More Information In Train Crash that Killed 4 Veterans 5/22/13

Jennifer Samp
CBS 7 News
jsamp@cbs7.com
May 22, 2013
      
Midland, TX – A Hunt for Heros parade meant to honor those who have served our country was interrupted with a train crash killing four veterans and injuring 16 others in November 2013.

The National Transportation Safety Board released documents Wednesday that have never been shown to the public until now.

CBS 7 combed through the Pages of documents that gave witness statements of the two train conductors and two drivers pulling the float carrying the veterans and their wives.
 
All of the drivers say for the most part it happened so fast. Dale Hayden the driver of the float that was hit by a train tells investigators “I looked in the mirror and just saw everybody started to jump off and then bam.”
 
Hayden also says that it looked to him like the train was not moving and he saw the lights ,but said it didn’t register.
 
His partner James Atchinson (aka Jimbo) the driver of the float in front of him states the only time he stopped was when he heard screams and saw the trailers swinging around. He says that he did not see the crossing lights nor hear the train horn. 
 
Hayden tells investigators Atchinson has a train horn as well and was using it during the parade. So if he heard the Union Pacific’s train horn he wouldn’t have been able to differentiate the two.
 
Both drivers of the floats say they were not using their phones at the time, their windows were down and had adequate sleep before the parade.
 
From the other end, the two train conductors  say they saw the first float cross the track, then the second. One conductor says they were too far back to notice that there were people on the floats at first.
 
The conductors pulled the emergency breaks, but could not remember when exactly. Then they say all they could do was brace themselves and call 911.
One conductor recalls a man and his wife holding hands before the train hit.
 
Hayden says he could also see the arm of the railroad crossing touching part of the trailer or the one of flag poles.

These documents also show both conductors’ cell phone records.  the phones were off and stored at the time of the crash. They too say they got adequate sleep before their trip and were also in good health at the time.
 
the NTSB investigators stressed to their interviews that they were not pointing fingers but wanted to get rid of all factors that would contribute to the crash as they figure out what happened.

“I want to know how it happened,” Atchinson said.

Link to NTSB website: http://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/2012/midland_tx/midland_tx.html

Article source: http://www.cbs7kosa.com/news/details.asp?ID=44822

Filed Under: I4 Accident News
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