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CITRUS COUNTY, FL – An accident involving a moped in Citrus County on Sunday night left one person dead and another injured, according to WTVT.

The crash happened on W. Norvell Bryant Highway near North Betty Point at about 7:30 p.m.  The Florida Highway Patrol’s investigation found that a 21-year-old woman from Belleview was driving a vehicle eastbound and trying to pass the moped when she collided with it.  The moped rider and a passenger fell off their vehicle, and the rider was then struck by a vehicle driven by a 75-year-old man from Crystal River.

The moped rider, a man from Inverness, was pronounced dead after being taken to an area hospital.  The passenger, a 15-year-old Homosassa boy, was seriously injured.

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CITRUS COUNTY, FL – The Florida Highway Patrol said two men died when their vehicles collided head-on in Citrus County last week.

The Citrus County Chronicle reports the accident happened Feb. 21 on South Rock Crusher Road at about 6:55 p.m.  According to state troopers, the driver of a northbound Hyundai Santa Fe crossed over the center line just north of West Minuteman Street.  The vehicle crashed into a southbound Pontiac G6.

The driver of the Pontiac, a 63-year-old man from Crystal River, was pronounced dead at the scene.  The Hyundai driver, a 38-year-old Crystal River man, was pronounced dead after being taken to an area hospital.

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PASCO COUNTY, FL – The Florida Highway Patrol said a man was killed in a pedestrian accident in Pasco County last week.

WTVT reported details of the incident that occurred Feb. 20 on State Road 52 near Paradise Pointe Way.  According to the FHP, a 56-year-old man was walking across SR-52 at about 8:15 p.m. when he entered the path of a Dodge Ram pickup truck and was hit by the vehicle.

The victim, a Fort Myers resident, was pronounced dead after being transported to an area hospital.

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A woman in Ireland recently learned the hard way that social media is not your friend when it comes to a legal dispute, like a personal injury claim.

After a photo of the 36-year-old woman winning a competition to see who could throw a tree the farthest surfaced online, an Irish court denied the mother’s $820,000 insurance claim.

In 2017, the woman apparently claimed in disclosures made before Ireland’s High Court that she suffered from “debilitating pain” from a car accident that prevented her from lifting heavy objects and kept her in bed on bad days.

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HUDSON, FL – A motorcycle rider was killed in a crash near a convenience store in Pasco County Tuesday night, reports Pasco News Online.

The accident happened in the area of Shady Drive and Hicks Road in Hudson.  The Florida Highway Patrol said the driver of a Hyundai Tucson was headed south at about 10:30 p.m. when she tried to make a left turn into the parking lot of the store.  The Hyundai entered the path of a Kawasaki motorcycle going north on Hicks Road.

The vehicles collided and the motorcyclist, a 30-year-old man from Plant City, was pronounced dead at an area hospital.

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ZEPHYRHILLS, FL – A collision in Pasco County last week claimed the life of an elderly driver, state troopers said.

According to Pasco News Online, the victim was an 85-year-old woman from Pewaukee, Wisconsin.  The Florida Highway Patrol said she was driving a Kia Soul north on US-301 in Zephyrhills Feb. 16 when the crash occurred at about 10:20 am.

The FHP said the woman attempted a U-turn at the intersection with Wire Road and entered the path of a tractor-trailer going south, resulting in a crash.

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OCALA, FL – The Ocala Police Department said a two-vehicle collision on Tuesday night left two people dead and another hospitalized.

Officers responded to the scene near the 1500 block of Southeast 36th Avenue after being notified of the incident at about 8:23 p.m.

A Mazda Miata and a Mercedes-Benz SUV collided and the Mazda went up in flames.  A man and a woman in the car were both pronounced dead at the scene.  A 17-year-old boy reported to have been driving the SUV was seriously injured and taken to an area hospital.

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ALACHUA COUNTY, FL – A two-vehicle collision in Alachua County left one of the drivers dead and the other injured, reports the Main Street Daily News.

The wreck took place Friday night on State Road 45 at 7:38 p.m.  The Florida Highway Patrol said the driver of a southbound Ford SUV crashed into a Chevrolet pickup truck going north on the roadway.

The driver of the pickup, a 29-year-old woman from Newberry, died after being taken to UF Health ER.  The SUV driver, a 45-year-old Newberry woman, was seriously injured.

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SUMTER COUNTY, FL – The Florida Highway Patrol is conducting a search for the driver responsible for the death of a pedestrian Saturday morning in Sumter County.

According to WKMG, the victim was struck by a vehicle while walking in the southbound inside lane of U.S. 301 near County Road 102.  The pedestrian, a 63-year-old man from Lake Mary, was found dead by responding state troopers at about 8 a.m.

The driver involved fled the scene of the crash but parts of the vehicle were left behind.  Based on the evidence that was found, the FHP described the vehicle they are looking for as a 1992-97 Ford Bronco or F-Series Ford pickup truck of unknown color that was traveling south on U.S. 301 and would be missing its left front headlight housing.

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Early estimates show that more than 500,000 people have attended the Florida State Fair so far, which started running on Feb. 8.

The State Fair features live music, sea lions, two circus shows, more than 200 vendors, and over 90 rides.

Today is the last day of the Florida State Fair in Tampa, FL and it is also Families and Kids Day where children get in free with the purchase of an adult admission.

How Common Are Carnival and Fair Injuries?

Last year at the State Fair, the Ferris wheel at the Florida State Fair in Tampa shut down as riders were left hanging upside down, being swung back and forth by the wind.

The latest U.S. Fixed Site Amusement Ride Injury Survey Report from the National Safety Council shows that in 2022, there were about 1,349 injuries on amusement park rides, with the vast majority being minor injuries.

According to data from the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) told to CNN, there were 30,900 injuries sustained by patrons on amusement park attractions in 2016. Since 2010, the commission reported that they are aware of 22 deaths.

About 335 million people visit amusement parks in the US each year, yet only one in 16 of them are likely to suffer a serious injury there that requires an overnight hospital stay, according to the International Association for Amusement Parks.

What Are Potential Hazards at State Fair and Other Amusement Parks and Carnivals?

Despite the best efforts of event organizers, mistakes and mishaps are nearly inevitable due to the imperfection of human nature. Some potential reasons for injuries that may occur at fairs and festivals include the following:

  • Poor or no lighting in certain locations
  • Inadequately installed or inoperable security measures, such as surveillance cameras and metal detectors
  • Absence of obvious signage designating emergency exits and danger zones
  • A flagrant disregard for safety by some employees, especially event security
  • Equipment issues or breakdowns brought on by aging or inadequate maintenance
  • Exposed, broken, or vandalized electrical lines across high-traffic areas
  • Personnel with inadequate training

How Can You Stay Safe at the State Fair?

  • Check for cleanliness at the fair and take note of trash and how lines are run. Odds are if they are not keeping areas clean, then they are cutting corners on safety.
  • Look at the rides for signs of wear and tear, such as broken seat belts or guard rails. If things are not working properly, then the ride is not safe.
  • Check and see if the staff are paying attention to patrons and making sure they are seated correctly, strapped in accordingly, and that they are being helped on and off rides.
  • Watch the rides a few times before you get on so that you can make sure they are running soundly.
  • Trust your gut – if something seems off, then it probably is.

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