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Pinellas Park Police: DUI Possible In Crash That Killed 1

News Channel 8 photo by RUGENE MOORE

A crash involving a car and box truck closed U.S. 19 near Mainlands Boulevard West for several hours this morning.

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TBO.com

Published: December 1, 2008

Updated: 12/01/2008 12:05 pm

PINELLAS PARK - Alcohol might have been a factor in a fatal automobile accident in Pinellas Park early this morning, according to the Pinellas Park Police Department.

Four people in a 1993 Chevrolet Caprice had been in Ybor City and might have been en route to a Howard Johnson hotel where one of the men was staying when the driver lost control of the car while going south on U.S. 19 and veered across a median near Mainlands Boulevard West. The Caprice was struck by a St. Petersburg Times delivery truck going north on U.S. 19, Capt. S.A. Forseth said.

The driver of the Caprice, 22-year-old Desmond King, and passengers Roff Turnquist, 24, and David Rollins, 22, were treated at Bayfront Medical Center. The fourth person in the car, 22-year-old Patrick Murphy, died, Forseth said.

The driver of the truck, 55-year-old Mark Vanpalla, was treated at Bayfront Medical Center but not admitted.

Investigators closed U.S. 19 at West Mainlands Boulevard from 2:20 until 8 a.m. while they collected evidence.

Authorities said King might have been driving under the influence and charges, including DUI manslaughter, might be filed.

Anyone with information should call Sgt. Tracey Schofield at the Pinellas Park Police Department, (727) 541-0887.

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