Florida

TARPON SPRINGS – A motorcyclist was killed Sunday when he hit a sport utility vehicle that was turning in front of him.

The 37-year-old man was not identified pending notification of his family.

According to Tarpon Springs police, the man was eastbound on Tarpon Avenue at about 12:22 p.m. when his 2003 Honda motorcycle hit the left front of a 2007 Toyota SUV driven by 18-year-old Matthew Gravens, who was making a left turn onto Tarpon from Japonica Avenue.

The man died at the scene. Police are still investigating.

- Rita Farlow, Times staff writer

ST. PETERSBURG — A fire in a storage room closed the Greyhound bus terminal Friday night.

St. Petersburg Fire & Rescue put the fire out quickly at 180 N. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. St. about 8 p.m. Firefighters had to shut off the power to the station, which had smoke damage throughout.

About 10 to 20 people evacuated the terminal, and no one was injured.

Investigators are still working to discover the cause of the fire.

–Stephanie Garry, Times Staff Writer

A Tampa man was shot in his cheek as he walked home in Tampa Friday night, Tampa police said.

Michael Jermaine Myers, 26, was walking in the 3300 block of E. Caracas Street about 9:15 p.m. when he heard gunshots. He realized he may have been shot and he ran to his home. Upon arrival, he discovered that a bullet had penetrated his left cheek, police said.

Myers was transported to Tampa General Hospital and was listed in stable condition. There are no suspects in the shooting.

– Karen McAllister, tampabay.com

[Bryan Farrow | Special to the Times]

UPDATE: Dade City police have identified the victim of this morning’s shooting. He is Thomas William Flannery, 46, of 4447 Seaberg Rd. in Zephyrhills. No other information was made available.

A gunshot victim sped through several streets this morning, then crashed into a tree in Dade City early this morning, according to a police report. Dade City police are calling it a homicide.

At 02:05 this morning, Dade City police officer Chris Stone heard a gunshot near railroad tracks on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. He then saw a vehicle cross the tracks westbound on MLK at a high rate of speed, police said.

(Read the full post about ‘Dade City gunshot victim identified’…)

CLEARWATER — The Sand Key Bridge was reopened early this morning after being temporarily shut down while emergency crews worked an accident on the bridge, according to Clearwater police.

Times staff writer

FORT DESOTO — A driver who had a seizure while driving on the Pinellas Bayway on Friday evening accidentally veered a 2006 Mercedes sedan off the road and into the waters of Fort DeSoto Park, authorities say.

The driver and passenger were able to escape the sinking vehicle through an open sun roof and were not injured. Now crews are trying to extricate the vehicle from 12-foot waters.

"Luckily they had the sun roof open," said park supervisor Jim Wilson. "They were able to swim out on their own."

The accident occurred at 6:32 p.m., according to St. Petersburg Fire Rescue. The car entered the water just south of the park’s boat ramp.

(Read the full post about ‘Mercedes took a dive into Fort DeSoto Park’…)

ST. PETERSBURG — The Exit 22 off-ramp of southbound Interstate 275 is re-open after a vehicle fire was extinguished, authorities say.

The fire was reported at 5:22 p.m. and reported out at 6:32 p.m. after firefighters doused it with foam.

The vehicle, whose make and model was unknown, was reported a total loss. There were no injuries.

Times staff writer

The second day of 2009 should be just as nice as the first, with temperatures in the low-to-mid 70s and only a slight chance of rain.

This weekend should be even warmer, said Bay News 9 meteorologist Juli Marquez. It’s expected to be in the upper 70s each afternoon with no rain in the forecast Saturday or Sunday.

Next week, a stronger cold front will likely move through, bringing a better rain chance Tuesday night and Wednesday, Marquez said. Patchy fog is expected the next few mornings, but nothing too serious.

Kim Wilmath, Times staff writer

The 45-year-old North Carolina man who abducted his two children after possibly killing three people shot himself during a standoff overnight, according to the Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office. Authorities feared the man may have been headed to St. Petersburg, where he had family.

Richard Douglas Heatwole was on the run after the three bodies were found Thursday. He took his two kids, 6-year-old Hayes and 10-year-old Haley, and headed south.

Authorities found him at a residence in Taylorsville, N.C., and surrounded it, said Lt. Russ Dillingham, Buncombe County Sheriff’s spokesman. After ordering Heatwole outside, officers heard a gunshot, and found the man dead.

(Read the full post about ‘Police: Man wanted for three North Carolina deaths kills himself before reaching St. Petersburg’…)

A mullet fisherman is safe this morning after the Coast Guard rescued him off St. Pete Beach.

Robert Smith’s boat was swamped by waves driven by heavy winds about 9 p.m. Thursday. Then the engine died.

(Read the full post about ‘Mullet fisherman rescued off St. Pete Beach says he learned his lesson’…)