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St. Pete Beach Visitors Critical After Being Struck By Van

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At least two people were injured in this crash on St. Pete Beach early Thursday afternoon.

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TBO.com

Published: April 10, 2008

Updated: 04/10/2008 07:16 pm

ST. PETE BEACH – A van swerved off Blind Pass Road this morning and struck a man and woman from North Carolina, leaving them seriously injured, police said.

Seth and Heather Whalley of Charlotte, N.C., were taken to Bayfront Medical Center where they were listed today in critical condition. The driver of the van, Aaron Rimar of St. Pete Beach, also was taken to Bayfront Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries, police said.

The couple was thrown 44 feet, said Bob Micklitsch, a traffic homicide investigator with the St. Pete Beach Police Department.

The van went up on a curb just south of 78th Avenue and started traveling along the sidewalk before hitting the couple, Micklitsch said. The couple was in town with their three children visiting the woman's mother, who is a St. Pete Beach resident, Micklitsch said.

After striking the pair, the van traveled down the sidewalk, hit a palm tree and flipped, Micklitsch said.
He said the driver might have been distracted by something in the van.

The investigation is ongoing and charges may be pending against the driver, police said.

Stay with TBO.com for developments.

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