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Four traffic crashes in the area claimed three lives and left three people with critcal injuries this week.
2 die in crash with Clay school bus
Two people died Sept. 29 after their vehicle crashed into the rear of a Clay County school bus.
According to the report written by Florida Highway Patrol Trooper M. Torres, Elisabeth C. Brantley, 19, of Interlachen was driving a 2003 Pontiac sedan northbound on Blanding Boulevard. Paul P. Bruchesky, 48, of Melrose was a passenger in the vehicle.
A 2010 Clay County school bus driven by Dawn Hingson-Green of Keystone Heights had also been traveling northbound on Blanding Boulevard, but had stopped at the intersection with Santa Clara Avenue in prepartion of making a left-hand turn.
The Pontiac failed to stop and struck the rear of the bus. The bus caught on fire, but all 22 students were evacuated.
Both Brantley and Bruchesky died at the scene. Hingson-Green was not injured, but one of the students, Samantha Brantley, 16, was transported to Shands Jacksonville with serious injuries. The report said she had been sitting in the rear of the bus and had been wearing a seatbelt.
The Pontiac was totaled and damage to the bus was estimated at $20,000.
Lawtey man dies in
1-vehicle crash
Christopher Smith Jr., 21, of Lawtey died at the scene of a one-vehicle crash on Oct. 5.
Daniel T. Taylor, 38, of Starke was driving a 2006 United Diesel TT eastbound on I-295 east of Phillips Highway in the center lane. Due to wet roadway conditions, Taylor lost control of the vehicle, traveled through the left lane and onto the median.
The vehicle overturned several times, ejecting Smith, the passenger, before coming to rest on its roof.
Smith was pronounced dead at the scene. Taylor was transported to Shands Jacksonville with critical injuries.
According to the report written by FHP Trooper D. Currier III, charges are still pending. Neither Taylor nor Smith were wearing seatbelts. Damage to the vehicle was estimated at $8,000.
Hampton man critically injured in crash
Lucian P. Bradley, 29, of Hampton was critcally injured in a crash Sept. 30 on C.R. 1471.
Bradley was riding a Huffy bicycle northbound on C.R. 1471 and Brenda S. Yeomans, 53, of Hawthorne was driving a 2002 Chevrolet was traveling northbound behind the bicycle.
According to the report written by FHP Trooper Shannon Levy, Yeomans entered the southbound lane in an attempt to pass the bicycle. However, Bradley also attempted to cross to the other side of the road at the same time. The bicycle crossed into the path of the vehicle and Bradley was struck and then hit the windshield of the car.
He was transported to Shands UF with critical injuries.
Damage to the vehicle was estimated at $2,500.
1 critically injured in Alachua County crash
A Gainesville man was critically injured on Oct. 5 on S.R. 121 when his vehicle struck the rear of a vehicle being driven by Nicholas A. Watts, 29, of Lake Butler.
Mark Roche, 55, of Gainesville was driving a 2006 Meit Moped south on S.R. 121 in Alachua County and passed a vehicle traveling in front of him.
Watts was driving a 2000 Honda two-door ahead of the vehicle being passed by Roche.
According to the report written by FHP Trooper R. Brewington, Roche's moped struck the rear of Watts' car, casuing Roche to be ejected from the moped. Roche was transorted to Shands UF with critical injuries.
Damage to the moped was estimated at $5,000. Damage to the car was estimated at $10,000.
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©Bradford County Telegraph 2010
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