Weapons

"A woman ran a red light in Tampa in the summer 2010, killing a bicyclist on the sidewalk. No charges. A Naples man ran a red light in his pickup truck, killing a 76-year-old woman in 2011. No charges. A Sarasota County woman ran a flashing red light, killing a 58-year-old woman also in April. No charges. When alcohol is involved, criminal charges are filed. […] To make [a vehicular homicide] charge, prosecutors must be able to prove that the person was driving 'in a reckless manner likely to cause the death of, or great bodily harm to, another.' Unknowingly running a red light and slightly speeding is not included under that definition…"—Jessica Vander Velde Tampa Bay Times "Red light crashes are often accidents, not crimes, law says" 19 July 2013 (link)

"Steven Rickert, a bus driver since 2006, contacted the sheriff's office on Tuesday to tell investigators he might have struck the man while driving a HART bus. The pedestrian was identified Tuesday as Eric Lewis, 43, of Tampa. He was hit and killed shortly before 9 p.m. Monday on 79th Street, near Fir Drive. Rickert told investigators he was heading west on Fir Drive and turned north on 79th Street. He said he didn't know he struck a person until he heard about the hit-and-run crash on Tuesday morning, the sheriff's office said. Rickert has been in two previous accidents while driving a HART bus, [HART spokeswoman Marcia] Mejia said. The first crash occurred in February 2007 and the second in January 2010. In the January 2010 crash, a black 1996 Dodge struck the HART bus driven by Rickert at Fletcher Avenue and 42nd Street. No one was cited. The crash was ruled "preventable" and Rickert was given additional training."—Jose Girona, Tampa Tribune "Driver in fatal hit and run was driving HART bus" 21 February 2012 (link)

"Hours after the wreck, a tipster called investigators to say his sister's boyfriend had a damaged red Ford Explorer, according to a search warrant obtained this week by The Tampa Tribune. The man said the boyfriend had called him, crying, shortly before 4 a.m. At first, the boyfriend said something had hit the Ford, but he wasn't sure what, court documents show. Later, the boyfriend said the Ford had struck two deer on Van Dyke Road. When deputies tried speaking to the boyfriend, he invoked his Fifth Amendment rights and requested an attorney, the search warrant states."—Josh Poltilove Tampa Tribune "Tips lead to breakthrough - but no hit-and-run arrest" 6 October 2010 (link) ed. Shawn Burton, the driver, received 7 years for the death of USF cancer researcher Kayoko Ishizuka. The sentence would have been longer if he remained at the scene and was found drunk.