Published on Wednesday, December 28, 2005
in the Orlando Sentinel

Holiday fatalities are down, FHP says

Traffic deaths statewide dropped significantly during the three-day Christmas weekend compared with fatalities last year, the Florida Highway Patrol reported Tuesday.

Preliminary numbers show 19 people were killed on the roads compared with 33 in 2004. Four people -- one an 11-year-old British tourist -- died in Central Florida: two in Lake County and one each in Polk and Volusia counties.

Stepped-up enforcement was credited for the drop in fatalities. FHP beefed up the number of troopers on the road during the weekend, even putting staff assigned to administrative work on patrol.

"We're not happy with any deaths, but it is a significant drop, and we're happy about that," said Sgt. Jorge Delahoz, an FHP spokesman. "We like to think stepped-up enforcement is saving lives."

The effort will be duplicated for the New Year's weekend.

Christmas-holiday traffic fatalities occurred in 16 separate accidents. Five crashes were alcohol-related, and seven remain under investigation. Four were classified as not alcohol-related. Of the 19 dead, three were pedestrians and five were motorcyclists.

Three of the motorcyclists were not wearing helmets, and three who died in car crashes were not wearing seat belts.

The first holiday fatality in Central Florida happened about 2 p.m. Christmas Day when a motorcyclist lost control as he merged onto Interstate 95 from I-4 in Daytona Beach. Gregory S. Boone, 25, of South Daytona was killed when he slid into oncoming traffic. He was wearing a helmet.

A Georgia woman visiting family died when a sport utility vehicle plowed into the back of her SUV as it was stopped on a Florida's Turnpike exit ramp Monday. Peggy A. Peters, 56, of Woodstock, Ga., died on the scene of the 5 a.m. accident at the exit to U.S. Highway 27.

A pedestrian, whose name has not been released, was killed about 7:30 p.m. Monday on U.S. 441 near Lady Lake. She was struck by a vehicle while walking northbound along the road with a group of friends.

About an hour later, Gerald Saunders, 83, of Leesburg was crossing County Road 473 in Leesburg near Spring Dale Drive when he stumbled. A car driven by Christopher Homelius of Tavares hit Saunders, but the impact caused minor abrasions to Saunders' hands and arms, Delahoz said. He was alert and told witnesses he had fallen. However, Saunders later died. An autopsy will determine the cause of death, Delahoz said. His death has not been ruled a traffic fatality.

An 11-year-old British tourist was killed in Polk County on Monday when he was struck by a pizza-delivery driver operating a pickup. Benjamin R. Hunt was walking along C.R. 54 when he was struck by a Chevrolet S-10 Blazer driven by Pamela Y. Iannotti about 7:25 p.m., an FHP report said.

He and his twin brother were taking a walk but got lost, Trooper Larry Coggins said Tuesday. He died at the scene, and his brother, Peter Z. Hunt, was knocked down but not seriously injured. Iannotti, 39, was delivering pizzas, Coggins said, and neither speed nor alcohol were thought to be factors in the accident.