Car Accidents

New Legislation Would Create Stiffer Penalties for Fleeing Tampa Car Accidents

Feb 23, 2012 | Category: Car Accidents | By Erik Abrahamson

Drivers who are involved in a Tampa car accident have a legal responsibility to remain at the scene until they have ensured that no one has been injured. Unfortunately, many drivers choose to leave the scene of an accident in order to avoid possible criminal or civil liabilities. A new bill introduced by state Senator Mike Fasano (R, New Port Richey) would create tougher penalties for leaving the scene of a Florida car accident. If the bill is passed, individuals who are found guilty of leaving the scene of vehicle crashes resulting in injury would be convicted of a second degree felony instead of a third degree felony. This would have the effect of increasing the severity of the punishments applicable to a conviction. Fasano explained to Fox 13 that he was moved to introduce this legislation by a story that was recently covered by the news agency. In January 2009, hit-and-run driver Louisa Jaar was involved in Pinellas Park car accident resulting in the injury of teenagers Jessica Mathews and Brandon Gaby. Jaar was operating a Corvette on 102nd Avenue N when she collided with the pair riding a scooter. Fluid leaking from the car following the accident was traced by police to Jaar’s ex-boyfriend’s home. Officers proceeded to charge Jaar with both reckless driving and leaving the scene of an accident resulting in injury. She was later convicted and sentenced to five years of probation under the condition that she return to jail for the weekends for one year. Fasano introduced Senate Bill 286 to increase the penalties for these types of crimes, including  many Tampa hit-and-run accidents. The bill was official introduced to the Florida Senate January 10, 2012. Sources: https://www.myfoxtampabay.com/dpp/news/investigates/penalties-for-fleeing-accident-scenes-012612 https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2012/286

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Seffner Man Dies in Car Wreck

Sep 19, 2011 | Category: Car Accidents | By Erik Abrahamson

Early Monday morning, August 15th, a Seffner man crashed his car on Fort King Boulevard in Tampa. According the police report, Elmer Houghie Monroe III, 49, was driving a 1986 Nissan pickup truck. When the truck failed to make a turn, it left the road and crashed into a large magnolia tree. Monroe died at the scene. Monroe was under house arrest at the time for previous charges for driving under the influence.

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Clearwater Teen Injured from St. Cloud Hit-and-Run

Aug 8, 2011 | Category: Car Accidents | By Erik Abrahamson

St. Cloud police are investigation a hit-and-run that struck Monday, July 26th at around 8:30 p.m. The Clearwater teen was walking with a friend in a residential area near the intersection of 25th Street Southeast and 14 ½ Avenue Southeast in St. Cloud when she was hit by a Dodge pickup truck. The truck, which continued on without stopping, was described as a small, black Dodge single cab pickup truck with a white Dodge decal on the tailgate, loud exhaust, and a missing driver’s side mirror. The driver was described as a white male with a shaved head between 20-40 years of age. According to the police report, 15 year-old Rosalie Ann Post had substantial injuries. However, she has been released from the hospital and is recovering at home.

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Clearwater Family Devastated by I-4 Crash

Aug 6, 2011 | Category: Accidents | By Erik Abrahamson

A Clearwater father and son died after their vehicle overturned on Interstate 4 Thursday, July 28th, 2011. Florida Highway Patrol reported Terry Lee Colston, 55, was driving his Ford Expedition eastbound on I-4 at about 1:30 p.m., just east of State Road 559 when the tread on his right rear tire began to separate. The Expedition spun off the south shoulder of the interstate and flipped over. All four passengers were taken to Lakeland Regional Medical Center, where Terry later died. His son, Robert Colston, 11, sustained critical injuries and passed days after his father. Sarah Colston, 11, Jack Colston, 10, and Maxwell Watson, 10, were released from the hospital with minor injuries. According to the Florida Highway Patrol report, all of the passengers were wearing seat belts at the time of the accident. However, the crash remains under investigation. If you or a loved one are injured in a car accident, our Clearwater auto accident injury attorneys are ready to help. Note: This post utilizes secondary sources independent of Abrahamson & Uiterwyk. The information used from these sources is not independently confirmed by our staff. If anything in this post is incorrect, please contact us and we will correct the inaccurate information or remove the post. If you are a family member of someone impacted by this accident and would like us to remove their name from this story simply click here. 

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