Archive for January, 2012

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30
Jan

10 people killed in related Florida accidents

January 30, 2012

In a series of accidents before dawn on Sunday near Gainesville, 10 people died and at least 18 were injured, according to the Chicago Tribune.

The accidents involving 12 cars and six or seven trucks occurred shortly before 4 a.m. on Interstate 75 after smoke from a marsh fire combined with fog to reduce visibility, the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) reported.

Eighteen people were transported to Shands Hospital emergency room, six of them to a trauma center, according to a hospital spokeswoman.

“It’s tragic. It’s probably the worst one [accident] I’ve seen in 27 years,” said a FHP spokesman.

Investigators are still trying to determine how many separate collisions occurred on the interstate, which is a main artery through Florida.

There is no information yet on the ages or genders of the victims. Several people died in one car. In another crash, two cars and a tractor trailer caught fire and melted asphalt on the road.

Hours later, the interstate remained closed while the investigation continued and while an analysis of the road pavement was under way to determine whether it could be safely re-opened.

The marsh fire was in or near Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park south of Gainesville. Florida Forest Service investigators are trying to determine whether the fire was set intentionally.

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27
Jan

Florida man killed in I-75 accident

January 27, 2012

In a morning crash on I-75 in Collier County today, a 58-year-old Port Charlotte man was killed, according to NBC News 2.

According to Florida Highway Patrol (FHP), a 36-year-old male driver of Cape Coral fell asleep at the wheel of his 1997 Buick LeSabre.

As a result, he struck the back of a 2002 Nissan Sentra, driven by a 73-year-old woman of Port Charlotte.

The Nissan rotated counterclockwise through the southbound lanes of I-75. Then it came to rest in the median.

The LeSabre traveled into the west shoulder and up a grassy slope before hitting a barbed wire fence and coming to a stop.

The rear passenger of the Nissan, a 58-year-old man of Port Charlotte, was transported to North Collier Hospital, where he later passed away of his injuries.

Another passenger in the Nissan, a 48-year-old man, suffered minor injuries.

The FHP is still investigating the accident. No charges have yet been filed.

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25
Jan

Royal Caribbean conference held in Florida, addressed accident

January 25, 2012

Half of Royal Caribbean’s ship captains were in Florida last week for the company‘s annual Fleet Operations leadership conference, according to USA Today.

The international Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Royal Caribbean, one of the world’s largest cruise lines, is calling this month’s Costa Concordia accident “a defining moment in the history of the modern cruise industry.”

He said that the Florida conference gave them “an opportunity to underscore both our excellent 42-year safety record and more importantly to emphasize the imperative of keeping our record intact into the future.”

“We will need the results of the authorities’ investigations to truly understand and respond to all of the implications,” the CEO wrote on his blog. “But we do not need to wait for anyone or anything to underscore the preeminent role of safety in the daily life of every cruise ship and of the industry as a whole.

“We must review [our safety processes] again, especially recruiting, training, guest mustering, and evacuation. We have considered and prepared for very many scenarios. Now we need to broaden the range of scenarios even further.”

The Royal Caribbean CEO is the first top executive of a major line, other than Costa, to speak publicly about the Jan. 13 accident, which resulted in the deaths of at least 15 passengers.

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23
Jan

DUI driver slams into police car, injures 3 in St. Petersburg

January 23, 2012

A DUI driver crashed into the back of a police cruiser at 3 a.m. in St. Petersburg, Florida, causing the vehicle to hit another vehicle and sending the officer and two others to the hospital, reports My Fox.com out of Tampa Bay, Florida.

At Gandy Boulevard and I-275, a 44-year-old police officer pulled over a Chrysler PT Cruiser after it had hit a traffic signal control box.

During the traffic stop, a 26-year-old intoxicated woman in a 2004 silver Toyota Corolla slammed into the back of the police cruiser, said the St. Petersburg police. The accident caused the police officer’s vehicle to hit the PT Cruiser.

Then the 26-year-old woman drove off.

The officer was taken to the hospital and later released. The driver and passenger of the PT Cruiser were taken to the hospital in serious condition. At last check, the passenger was in critical condition, police said.

The driver of the Corolla was arrested by a Florida Highway Patrol trooper, assisting at the traffic stop.

She has been charged with DUI and leaving the scene of an accident with injuries.

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20
Jan

Young Lakeland teen hit, killed by school bus

January 20, 2012

A 14-year-old Lakeland (Florida) High School student died Tuesday afternoon after she was hit by a school bus at 3:06 p.m., reports WTSP News.

The student was crossing West Beacon Road southbound from Camphor Drive. The 43-year-old substitute bus driver was stopped on Eden Parkway at the intersection of West Beacon Road.

Investigators say that the bus driver was making a left turn when she hit the girl, who was airlifted to Tampa General Hospital. The teen was pronounced dead at 4:37 p.m.

The Assistant Superintendent for the Polk County School District Transportation Department says that the bus driver was so distraught over the accident that she had to be rushed to the hospital. “She’s absolutely devastated over what took place.”

The middle school principal at Southwest Middle School says that teachers, students, and staff are going to be upset as they learn of the young girl’s death. “She was a sweet girl–very well liked–popular with the other students–involved here at school.”

Lakeland police say that their investigation is still ongoing.

Meanwhile, none of the 28 Southwest Elementary School children on board the school bus were hurt.

School district officials say that counselors will be available to help the students and the school bus driver during the week.

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