MOTORIST
DIES AFTER 6-VEHICLE WRECK
CHAIN-REACTION
CRASH CLOSES SOUTHBOUND U.S. 19
A
68-year-old Clearwater woman died an hour after she was
involved in a six-vehicle wreck on U.S. 19 Friday morning
at the height of "drive-time" traffic. A 53-year-old
Sarasota man was charged with DUI-Manslaughter and Careless
Driving in connection with the 8:02 a.m. wreck.
All
southbound lanes of Pinellas County’s major north-south
commuter artery were closed to all traffic to facilitate
rescue and wreck investigation procedures. The highway was
re-opened to commuters at 11:20 a.m.. None of the other
motorists involved in the chain-reaction wreck sustained
any significant injuries.
According
to Clearwater Police Traffic Homicide Investigators, the
multi-vehicle wreck began as a line of cars slowed as motorists
approached the traffic signal at Nursery Road. The wreck
itself, however, was about 200 yards south of the Harn Boulevard
intersection.
Investigators
say a 1996 Dodge Ram pickup truck driven by TAKESHI TESHIMA
(09-16-46), of 7971 North Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, was headed
southbound on U.S. 19 in the median lane when it ran into
the rear of a 1997 four-door Saturn driven by PATRICIA HALL
ROBERTS. Ms. Roberts, of 2361 Jamaican Street, Apartment
25 at the Top of the World community in Clearwater, was
treated at the scene by Clearwater Fire Department paramedics
before being flown by helicopter to Bayfront Medical Center
Hospital in St. Petersburg. She was pronounced dead at 9:01
a.m.
Upon
impact, Ms. Roberts’ Saturn was pushed beneath the car in
front of her - a 1999 Mercury Cougar driven by GERARDO A.
ORLANDO (11-22-60), of 1779 East Groveleaf Avenue in Palm
Harbor. After the wreck, Mr. Orlando was able to clamber
out of his car, which was sitting on top of the Saturn.
The
two cars sandwiched together were then pushed into a 1992
Chevrolet van driven by PAUL KING (12-26-64), of 3120 Saint
Clair Street in Oldsmar. Mr. King’s van was then pushed
into the rear end of a 1999 Toyota 4-Runner driven by PAMELA
J. KISFALUSI (10-15-61), of 2294 Springflower Drive in Clearwater.
The Toyota, in turn, was pushed into the rear-end of the
car in front of it, a 1998 Saturn driven by MARC AARON SILVER
(07-28-73), of 2241 Willow Tree Trail in Clearwater.
Vehicles
southbound on U.S. 19 were routed westward onto Harn Boulevard,
and motorists were detoured to Belcher Road to continue
south to Nursery Road, where they were able to return to
U.S. 19.
Two
lanes of southbound traffic were reopened at 11:20 a.m.,
and the highway was cleaned up and all lanes reopened by
noon. Investigators have not yet determined why the truck
ran into the rear of the Saturn or how fast it was traveling,
nor the speed - if any - of the other vehicles involved.
Other than the two cars sandwiched, all vehicles were able
to be driven from the scene once the on-scene investigation
concluded.
Mr.
Teshima has been transported to the Pinellas County Jail,
and the investigation is continuing.
For
additional information regarding this investigation, please
contact Public Information Officer Wayne Shelor at 727-562-4333.
/s/
SID KLEIN
Chief of Police