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Vulture blamed for deadly crash on Tampa Road
Tribune photo by SCOTT ISKOWITZ
The wreck closed busy Tampa Road for several hours.
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Published: July 31, 2009
Updated: 07/31/2009 04:07 pm
A crash this morning on Tampa Road that took the life of a 74-year-old driver was set in motion because a vulture was eating a dead armadillo in the road, according to the Pinellas Sheriff's Office.
At about 8:35 a.m., Charles Schafer was driving east on the thoroughfare and had just passed Curlew Road when he came upon the series of cars that had slowed for the vulture, the sheriff's office said.
The Palm Harbor man, however, did not reduce his speed and swerved to avoid striking any of the cars, the sheriff's office said. His 2003 Toyota Corolla went up onto a raised grass median before striking a tree head-on, the office said. It then flipped.
Schafer was pronounced dead at the scene.
Initially Tampa Road was closed; then one lane was opened in each direction. All lanes were open by 12:22 p.m.
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