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Fatal Crash Shuts Down U.S. 19

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By LISA A. DAVIS, The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 15, 2007

NEW PORT RICHEY - George Denise froze behind the wheel of his Nissan minivan Friday afternoon as cars started ricocheting off one another and shattered glass flew around him.

He had just crossed U.S. 19 from the Davis Center and was waiting in the turn lane between the medians, preparing to turn south on U.S. 19 at 2:20 p.m., when six vehicles crashed in the northbound and southbound lanes.

'Another second,' the 78-year-old said, scanning the scene north of Main Street, 'I would've been in that.'

His Nissan sat unscathed about an hour after the wreck that sent at least four drivers to hospitals.

One man, who police say likely caused the crash, was taken to Morton Plant North Bay Hospital as paramedics performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation. He later died, said Assistant Chief Darryl Garman, of the New Port Richey Police Department.

Names of the victims weren't available Friday evening.

The crash caused police to close about one-eighth of a mile of U.S. 19 from Green Key Road north, rerouting traffic in both directions for more than two hours.

Police said a preliminary investigation showed that a blue Subaru probably caused the wreck.

Witnesses told police that a man driving the vehicle was weaving in and out of traffic as he traveled north on U.S. 19, losing control near Green Key Road. The car struck a southbound pickup, knocking several cars into one another in both lanes, Garman said.

'We're still talking to everyone,' he said about 3:30 p.m.

Denise said the Subaru's driver appeared to be trying to turn on the highway.

'He just turned and went,' he said. 'Something had to happen. ... He had to pass out. He didn't hit his brakes. Nobody did. It happened that fast.'

After the collision, the Subaru's driver had to be cut out of the vehicle and taken out through the back window, witnesses said. He was the one who died.

A close call happened in the northbound lane of 19.

A Volkswagen New Beetle involved in the mess was hit by a car and came close to being plowed into by a Rinker cement truck carrying a load. The truck driver, Andrew Dowdell, barely brushed the small car, possibly sparing the two teens inside from serious injury.

'The only reason there's a scratch on that car is because the kid opened the door to get out' on the passenger side, said Officer Derrick Thivener, of the New Port Richey Police Department.

Dowdell 'did an outstanding, exceptional job of avoiding that crash,' Assistant Chief Garman said.

Reporter Lisa A. Davis can be reached at (727) 815-1083 or ldavis@tampatrib.com. Keyword: U.S. 19 Crash, to view more photos.

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