GOLF CARTS 2 WALMART - GC2W – Sun City Center – Hillsborough County

TAMPA - In the neighborhood of Sun City Center, the golf cart is king. Every day hundreds of residents use golf carts on the streets in this south Hillsborough County community. Hillsborough County commissioners are considering building a cart path across a field from East Del Webb Boulevard to a signalized crossing at U.S. 301 and Cape Stone Avenue. The path will cost about a quarter of a million dollars according to Public Works Director Bob Gordon.

Recently, a group calling itself GolfCarts2Walmart, or GC2W, launched a petition drive that garnered 4,400 signatures. A resident has met with state Department of Transportation officials to make sure they had no objections to golf carts crossing at Cape Stone Avenue. DOT is supportive of the crossing. Gordon said if the commission approves the project the developers will probably convey an easement and the project should be completed by late January or early February 2010.

Golf carts and cars and trucks on the same roads have the potential for serious injuries. If you have been injured in a golf cart accident, call the TRIPP LAW FIRM – Personal Injury Law for an immediate case evaluation. We are available 24 hours a day.

Call us NOW at 888-392-LAWS (5297)

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FATAL BUS CRASH - NTSB finds array of "startling problems" causing bus crash – SAFETY INSPECTIONS

NATIONAL – According to the NTSB, "A punctured tire caused the bus crash that killed seventeen (17) people heading to a church retreat last year. The investigators also uncovered many other startling problems with the bus company, the driver and the safety inspections that allowed the bus to stay on the road."

Many federal agencies have ignored years of warnings that buses should be equipped with seat belts, luggage racks that don't fall apart during a crash.

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Nearly 1 million window blinds recalled sold by IKEA, Bed Bath & Beyond and Hanover Direct

NATIONAL - According to the AP, "Nearly 1 million roller blinds and Roman shades sold by IKEA, Bed Bath & Beyond and Hanover Direct were recalled Tuesday for posing a serious strangulation risk to small children."

IKEA "previously recalled blinds in August, as well as in November 2008, following the death of a child. No incidents involving IKEA blinds were reported in this recall." For more information click the link below:

www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml09/09325.html

PSTA BUS rearended by landscaping truck on Seminole Blvd - Many passengers injured - Transported by SunStar to local hospitals

SEMINOLE - A Pinellas Suncoast Transit Association (PSTA) bus was rearended by a landscaping truck sending many passengers to local hospitals. The PSTA bus was headed south on Seminole Blvd. (Alt. US 19), stopped to pick up passengers when it was hit from behind by a southbound landscaping truck.

Moments later the scene was filled with several units from the Seminole Fire Rescue, five (5) SunStar ambulances, and a news helicopter flying overhead. Two hours later the flow of traffic on Seminole Blvd. near 102nd Avenue resumed to normal.

$11.1 MILLION DOLLAR VERDICT awarded by Pinellas County jury against All Children's Hospital in St. Petersburg

ST. PETERSBURG - After deliberating for three (3) full days the jury delivered an $11.1 million dollar verdict in a medical malpractice case that could cost the hospital up to $8.7 million dollars.

The verdict will likely be appealed as a spokesman for All Children's Hospital pointed out that the hospital "was found only partially responsible."

18-year-old AMBULANCE DRIVER crossed centerline and hits truck HEAD-ON causing serious injuries

TAMPA - An eighteen year old ambulance driver traveling east on Busch Boulevard crossed the centerline and hit a westbound pickup truck head on. According to the Tampa Police Department, the driver of the ambulance realized traffic was stopped ahead of him, hit the brakes and swearved left to avoid a rear end collision.

The oncoming pick up truck was occupied by a grandfather and two (2) grandsons coming back from a Boy Scout meeting. The driver of the truck and boys were transported to St. Joseph's Hosptial for treatment of their accident-related injuries.

The driver of the ambulance was cited for the accident. There were no patients in the ambulance.

TOYOTA SUDDEN ACCELERATION - Floor Mats - Not the only problem

NATIONAL - According to the Los Angeles Times, Toyota's problems may extend beyond floor mats. "Auto safety experts believe there may be a bigger problem with Toyota vehicles than simply the floor mats."

They believe "that Toyota's ignition, transmission and braking systems may make it difficult for drivers to combat sudden or unintended accelerations and safely recover, regardless of their cause."

The NHTSA "says it has an open investigation into sudden acceleration events involving Toyota vehicles."

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$8.5 MILLION DOLLAR VERDICT IN SUV ROLL-OVER

NATIONAL - A woman was awarded $8.5 million dollars in Ford SUV rollover - product liability case. The month long trial from 2005 centered around a rollover wreck of a Mercury Mountaineer (Ford) near Douglasville, Georgia. The accident killed two people and injured two others. The driver had her right leg amputated just below the knee and her left arm is paralyzed as a result of the accident. She also suffered a brain injury.

The jury heard testimony that a car had tried to get over into the SUV's lane. The SUV swerved into the left lane to avoid the car and when it attempted to go back right, the SUV flipped and rolled over four-and-a-half times.

The jury began deliberating just after 10 a.m. and returned a verdict about 2 p.m. finding that the Mercury Mountaineer built by Ford, was defectively designed and, as a result, was unreasonably prone to rollover.

Ford nearly always appeals large verdicts and will almost certainly do so in this case.

$13.5 MILLION DOLLAR VERDICT in product defect case

NATIONAL - Jurors hit Lasko Products, Inc., with a $13.5 million verdict after a faulty fan motor ignited a blaze in 2005 that killed a 7-year-old boy.

Lasko is the largest fan manufacturer in the United States. They discovered a defect in the China-made fan motors in 1999 and developed corrective technology in 2004. The company did not alert consumers who already had the defective fans nor report the problem to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) until after the boy's death.

http://www.laskoproducts.com/recall/recall_fans.html

MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENT - I-4 - TAMPA - FATAL

TAMPA - A motorcyclist died Wednesday night after riding between stopped cars on Interstate 4. According the the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) the cyclist lost control of his bike and sliding beneath a moving tow truck. The motorcyclist who was not wearing a helmet died at the scene.

The crash remains under investigation.

Bay Pines Estates– Seminole – Pinellas County Florida community learns of TCE contaminated groundwater after 17 years near Harbor Lights M H Park

PINELLAS COUNTY – According to The Brandon News and Tampa Tribune – Seventeen ( 17) years after Becky Sharp notified Pinellas County sheriff's deputies about an old industrial plant with contaminated groundwater, "people living nearby in Bay Pines Estates are hearing about it for the first time. They're learning that the fallout from that neglect may threaten them today."

The state "already knows groundwater on the plant site contains a hazardous stew of vinyl chloride, trichloroethylene (TCE), tetrachloroethylene, arsenic, lead and cadmium. The question is whether it has spread." According to federal records, "the Pinellas sheriff's office's Environmental Crimes Division initially notified the EPA in 1992, saying the site 'posed a threat to the community.'"

The EPA initiated a cleanup, but "there is no indication the sheriff's office or EPA" alerted nearby residents.

CLICK ON THE LINK TO READ MORE AT TBO.COM - www2.tbo.com/content/2009/oct/08/081923/another-raytheon-residents-just-learning-old-conta/

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Two teens hit by car in Hudson • PASCO COUNTY • Students injured in accident

PASCO COUNTY - At least two students have been struck by a car in Hudson. According to the Florida Highway Patrol, a driver swerved to miss one group of children walking along Utica Drive near New York Avenue and struck two teenagers.

Officials said the two teens hit, both boys, were taken to Bayfront Hospital.

There is no word on their conditions or injuries.

Source - BayNews9

The Federal Highway Administration to study increase in motorcycle crashes and deaths on roads

NATIONAL - According to The Detroit News (10/5, Shepardson) reported, "The Federal Highway Administration will conduct an intensive study into the cause of the growing number of motorcycle crashes and deaths on America's roads.

It's the first study of its kind in almost 30 years."

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TARPON SPRINGS pedestrian dies after being hit by a car on U.S. 19

PINELLAS COUNTY - A pedestrian pushing a bicycle was hit as she attempted to cross U. S. Hwy 19 just south of Martin Luther King. According to the Tarpon Springs Police Department, the woman was pushing a bicycle across U.S. 19 just south of MLK when a southbound vehicle hit her. The pedestrian was rushed to Helen Ellis Memorial Hospital, where she later died.

One killed ♦ Two injured in roll-over accident on Memorial Highway in Tampa ♦ Town n Country

TAMPA – According to the Hillsborough County Sheriff, a roll-over crash has killed one person and closed a stretch of road in Tampa. One person died when a Ford Explorer SUV flipped over several times just after 3 a.m. on Memorial Highway near George Road. Two others were injured an transported to local hospitals.

Memorial Highway was closed from George Road to Independence Parkway and traffic was backed up Veterans Expressway. Law enforcement officials said, the SUV was traveling eastbound on Memorial when the driver lost control and hit a median.

Witnesses reported that prior to the crash, the SUV was speeding, when the driver lost control hit the median and flipped over several times. The investigation is continuing and officials said the roadway would be closed for several hours as the accident is investigated.

Two Tampa residents critically injured in St. Pete motorcycle accident at I-375 exit ramp

ST. PETERSBURG — Two people were injured in a motorcycle accident Saturday on Interstate 375. According to the Florida Highway Patrol, the driver lost control of his control of his 1998 Kawasaki motorcycle just before noon on the Interstate 375 exit ramp.

The driver of the cycle was exiting from northbound Interstate 275, and struck the concrete barrier with the left side of his bike. He and his female passenger both from Tampa were ejected and thrown into a lane of traffic.

Both were wearing helmets and taken to Bayfront Medical Center — Both sustained critical injuries.

Four injured after boat struck sea wall near Shore Acres - St. Petersburg

ST. PETERSBURG — Four (4) people were injured when their 20-foot boat struck a sea wall. The crash was reported just after 9:30 p.m. in the waters of Tampa Bay near Shore Acres.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and EMS were on the scene. The injured were transported to Bayfront Medical Center with unknown injuries.

The cause of the crash will be investigated by the FWC.

Toyota/Lexus floor-mat problem may have been known since 2007

NATIONAL - In the "Wheels" blog at the New York Times, Christopher Jensen wrote, "Toyota and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration issued a warning on Tuesday about floor mats possibly jamming accelerators on 3.8 million Toyotas. But the company and the agency have known about the problem for more than two years." A 2007 NHTSA investigation "made it clear the automaker had a problem with the design of the accelerator pedal and the all-weather, rubber floor mats that were an option."

To read more - CLICK ON THE LINK - wheels.blogs.nytimes.com

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TARGET Corporation pays $600,000.00 civil penalty

NATIONAL – According to the Associated Press - "Target Corporation has agreed to pay a $600,000 civil penalty for importing and selling a variety of toys with high levels of lead paint on the surface."

Target "recalled more than 500,000 Kool Toyz play sets, Anima Bamboo Collection games, and Happy Giddy gardening tools and Sunny Patch chairs for lead paint violations between November 2006 and September 2007. The company did not take the proper steps to ensure none of the toys it imported and sold contained lead paint, according to CPSC."

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$330 MILLION DOLLAR VERDICT • Hernando County • involving drunk-driving collision

HERNANDO COUNTY – According to The St. Petersburg Times - “In what local court observers are calling one of the largest verdicts they can recall, a Hernando County [FL] jury on Wednesday awarded more than $330 million in civil damages to Angela Stone, whose 13-year-old daughter, Shelby Taylor Hagman, was killed in 2007 by a drunk driver, Christopher Marcone.”

Judge orders Toyota to preserve crashworthiness documents

NATIONAL - According to Bloomberg News, "Toyota Motor Corp., its units, lawyers and any other employees were ordered by a U.S. judge to preserve all documents about the 'crashworthiness' of its vehicles after the carmaker was accused of destroying lawsuit evidence."

The order stems from a lawsuit in which a former in-house attorney for Toyota, Dimitrios Biller, "claims Toyota destroyed documents that should have been retained as possible evidence in personal injury claims."

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Florida contamination suit against Raytheon certified as class action - Azaela Neighborhood - PROPERTY VALUES - Ground water contamination

ST. PETERSBURG - According to the St. Petersburg Times, on Wednesday September 30, 2009, US District Judge Virginia Hernandez Covington certified as a class-action a suit filed by four (4) St. Petersburg, Florida, homeowners "against RAYTHEON over chemical contamination spreading beneath their homes."

That means "Raytheon now could face claims for damages from more than 1,000 property owners in the Azalea neighborhood where its factory stood."

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Dunedin Largo PINELLAS COUNTY MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENT - One fatality - One Seriously injured

PINELLAS COUNTY - Two separate Pinellas motorcycle accidents leave one rider dead, another injured. One motorcyclist was killed and another injured in two separate crashes in Pinellas County on Wednesday September 30, 2009.

The first accident occurred at the intersection of County Road 1 near San Christopher Drive in Dunedin. Pinellas County Sheriff's Office was on the scene. The biker was transported to Mease-Dunedin Hospital and pronounced dead at 4:08 p.m. No citations have been issued but the investigation is continuing.

Later, another motorcyclist was injured around 6 p.m. when he lost control of his bike and was thrown off his motorcycle on U.S. 19 just north of East Bay Drive in Largo. Largo Police was on the scene. The unidentified motorcyclist was not wearing a helmet. He was flown via Bayflight to the Bayfront Medical Center with serious injuries.

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TIRE SEPARATION ON I-75 caused serious injuries

SUMTER COUNTY — According to the Florida Highway Patron, a St. Petersburg woman and her passenger were seriously injured Wednesday when the left rear tire of their Ford Explorer disintegrated on Interstate 75. The driver was flown to Orlando Regional Medical Center.

The passenger was transported to Citrus Memorial Hospital in Inverness. The accident took place just before 2:00 p.m. near County Road 48 in Sumter County. The 1998 Ford Explorer was headed south in the outside lane of I-75 when the tread came loose from the left rear tire.

According to FHP report this caused the driver to lose control, roll-over striking a tree on the side of the highway. Both occupants were wearing seat belts, according to the FHP.

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