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Police Seek 3rd Man In Thursday's Collision

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TBO.com

Published: September 6, 2008

ST. PETERSBURG - Police now say there were three, not two, people in a car that struck a truck early Thursday, and they want help identifying the third man.

The Chevrolet Cobalt collided with a tractor-trailer at 38th Avenue North and 16th Street at 4:48 a.m. Police and a good Samaritan pulled two people out of the burning car, according to the St. Petersburg Police Department.

Now they say there was a third person in the Cobalt, but that person left on foot before the rescue.

Surveillance video from a 7-Eleven at 2990 16th St. N. shows there were three people in the car, police say. The Cobalt was at the 7-Eleven when it backed up toward a police cruiser, prompting the officer to try to stop the Cobalt. The Cobalt fled and, several blocks away, crashed into the tractor-trailer.

Robert Bryant, 23, and Chad Anthony Petrucelli, 26, both of Clearwater, were pulled from the burning car, police said.

Surveillance video shows the trio in the 7-Eleven making purchases. The first person seen in the video is the one police are trying to find. Anyone with information should call (727) 893-7780.

The man, who probably was injured, is white, in his late 20s to early 30s, of medium build and balding. He was wearing a white sleeveless T-shirt and jeans.

The video shows him making a purchase, leaving the store and getting in the Cobalt. The video then shows Bryant and Petrucelli making a purchase, leaving the store and entering the car.

Seconds later the police officer sounds his air horn to prevent a collision when the Cobalt backs toward his squad car.

No charges had been filed as of early this afternoon.

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