No alcohol, speeding, or other obvious factors caused the accident. Yet, we can't be too careful when allowing our kids use of the vehicle.  I believe it's a good rule of thumb to enforce a no texting, no cell phone use while driving.  The price is just too high to pay for another life lost in Tampa Bay.  My condolensces to both families. 

As most motorcycle accidents, the drivers of the motorcycles were seriously injured.  One was taken to Tampa General Hospital in critical condition.  The rise in motorcycle accidents in Tampa Bay is alarming and is an almost daily occurrence in the Tampa Bay area.

Witnesses had said he was carrying a hammer but it was actually a squeegee. 

Once again, the supposedly non-lethal taser is at the center of another death.  Amnesty International and other advocacy groups have criticized the safety of the taser weapon and have called on police to discontinue its use until it can be determined whether the taser is actually a lethal weapon even though it's been marketed as a non-lethal alternative to a firearm.

This photo taken by the St. Pete Times shows an unruly Red Sox fan being arrested on top of the Rays dugout during Wednesday night's game at the Trop.  Normally, this wouldn't draw my attention save for the fact that the arresting officer has a Taser gun pointed at the back of the man's head.  He's already on the ground and another officer appears to have him subdued.  So why pull out the Taser?  St. Petersburg Police officials are looking into the incident since internal policies prohibit aiming or firing a taser at someone's head or neck.

The Taser gun has come under intense scrutiny for its sometimes lethal effects, in spite of the fact that the gun has been aggressively marketed as an alternative to deadly force.

Wilson had been arrested previously for misdemeanor battery and driving with a suspended license.  His mother wanted to get him help for his mental issues.  She didn't want him to die.  The taser was used to subdue a suspect with a history of mental issues, not a a hardened, violent criminal.  Once again, taser use results in a needless death. Perhaps, law enforcement should consider an alternative to the taser which is quickly becoming a lethal weapon rather than an alternative to deadly force as it has been promoted.

This is a dangerous trend that will result in many many more accidents that could have been avoided if the driver would have stopped texting and paid attention to the road.  Tampa Bay roads are already congested.  There are many bad drivers out there.  Texting while driving is like playing Russian roulette.  Stop texting while driving, it's that simple.

Then, Friday night, Algernard Brown, of St. Petersburg was critically injured after his motorcycle crashed at a high rate of speed on 18th St. South in St. Petersburg.  Brown was not wearing his helmet and is very seriously injured. 

Finally, Monday afternoon Kevin Lund of Frostproof was killed when he struck the right front portion of a Ford F-150 pickup which was turning left at the time of the crash. 

All three of the crashes were preventable.  Perhaps all motorists, including those driving motorcycles need to remind themselves that one mistake or careless error can cost a life on the roadway. 

The Florida Highway Patrol has begun a campaign to address the growing number of motorcyclist fatalities in Florida.  The campaign, dubbed "Ride Proud. Dress Loud" seeks to draw attention to what it sees as a major cause of the number of motorcycle accidents-other drivers simply don't see them. 

In 2006, the most recent data available, 521 Florida motorcyclists were killed on the road, up from 441 in 2005.

• Model year 2006-08 Buick Lucerne sedans and model year 2008 Buick Enclave SUVs.
• Model year 2006-08 Cadillac DTS sedans and model year 2007-08 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV and Escalade EXT SUVs.
• Model year 2007-08 Chevrolet Avalanche and Silverado trucks and Suburban and Tahoe SUVs.
• Model year 2007-08 GMC Acadia, Yukon, and Yukon XL SUVs and Sierra trucks.
• 2008 Saturn Outlook SUVs.

According to the manufacturer the problem stems from a short circuit in the grounding wire.

A Palm Harbor crash has left an 86 year old man dead.  John Romanak was killed when he was attempting to cross Alderman Road at 6;00am.  At that time of the day, it is still dark and it's unclear if the driver of the vehicle who struck him actually saw him. 

Alderman Road is a busy Pinellas County road also known as County Road 816. 

As the girls were preparing to remove their watercraft from the water, the scooter exploded sending the girls flying into the water.  Luckily, Deputy Bennett was still at the scene and pulled the two to safety.  They were transported to Morton Plant Hospital in Clearwater where their injuries were described as non-life threatening. 

Sometimes, a police stop can save lives.

The Move Over law was enacted in Florida in 2002 to prevent such accidents and ensure the safety of law enforcement officers who correctly believe they are in grave danger during such traffic stops.  The media regularly reports officers being injured in the Tampa Bay area during such traffic stops.  There is no doubt that some roadways in the Tampa Bay area such as US 19 in PInellas County are particularly hazardous.  That's no excuse for motorists to ignore the move over law.

Another alternative is the mass transit or bus system.  However that also has its drawbacks since it's time consuming and doesn't cover all the areas of northern and southern Pinellas County. 

It's tough to make alternative transportation plans but it can be done with adequate planning of the route, safety measures, and time.

No charges have been filed and the investigation is ongoing.