Fatal collision leads to DUI investigation

A passenger in a car that was rear-ended by a truck at a Clearwater intersection in September has died, and now the truck's driver is the target of a drunken-driving investigation, according to court records.

Maxwell Limonick, 23, of Santa Barbara, Calif., died Friday, eight days after the 11:50 p.m. wreck at Gulf-to-Bay Boulevard and Hampton Road, court records say.

Limonick was in the back seat of a Nissan that had stopped for a red light at the intersection when the car was struck from behind by a Toyota Tundra driven by Thomas Corbin, 39, of St. Petersburg, said Elizabeth Watts, spokeswoman for Clearwater's public safety departments.

One motorist told authorities he was slowing down for the red light when the Tundra passed him at 40 to 50 mph, the documents say. The motorist said the brake lights on the truck never activated before the truck smashed into the Nissan, the documents say.

Corbin watched as firefighters cut up the 1999 Nissan to extricate Limonick, the documents say. He asked a Clearwater police officer how bad Limonick's injuries were, and he was told they were significant. "Really screwed up," he was overheard mumbling, the documents say.

Corbin had the smell of alcohol on his breath, along with bloodshot and watery eyes, and mumbled speech, the documents say. He told an officer he didn't know what happened, but that he had the green light. He also said he had two drinks at a bar earlier in the evening.

Limonick was bleeding heavily from his mouth and nose as firefighters worked to treat him that night. His throat was partially crushed and his lower jaw broke in two places.

Investigators asked a judge to sign a search warrant after Limonick died so they could search the Toyota truck, which has been at a body repair shop. According to an affidavit accompanying the warrant, the case is now a driving-under-the-influence-manslaughter investigation.

Corbin has not been charged in connection with the accident.