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MOTORCYCLIST DIES AFTER COLLISION

 
Published June 23, 2012|Updated June 25, 2012

TAMPA

A motorcyclist was killed after colliding with a car Thursday evening. Jose Juan Javier Gonzalez, 31, of Tampa was driving his Suzuki motorcycle south on N 56th Street near the Puritan Road intersection just after 7:30 p.m. That's when a 2012 Nissan Altima, driven by Brittne Charde Farr, 26, turned into Gonzalez's path, state troopers said. Farr, who was driving north on 56th Street, was trying to turn left onto Puritan Road when the crash happened, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. Gonzalez drove straight into the Altima's passenger side, sending Gonzalez, who was wearing a helmet, flying from his motorcycle and into the street, troopers said. He was taken to St. Joseph's Hospital, where he died a short time later. Farr, who was wearing her seat belt, suffered minor injuries in the crash, troopers said. Officials estimate about $10,000 in damage was done to the Altima.

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Fire displaces family; no one hurt

One family was displaced by a fire that broke out Friday afternoon, officials said. The blaze began just after 2 p.m. in the area of 1502 E Humphrey St., according to Tampa Fire Rescue. Firefighters extinguished it quickly, officials said. The Red Cross was on scene Friday afternoon to assist the family displaced by the blaze. No one was injured. They were not immediately identified.

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ST. PETERSBURG

Man shot self in chest, police say

A 28-year-old man who stumbled into a sushi bar late Thursday night with bullet wounds to his chest accidentally shot himself, police said. Charles E. Pitts, 28, was taken to the hospital about 10:30 p.m. He is expected to survive. Before the shooting, Pitts had been at Hiro's Tokyo steakhouse and sushi bar, at the Mainstream Station shopping complex on Fourth Street N just south of 54th Avenue N. Witnesses said he left the restaurant, then returned moments later screaming and clutching his chest, where he had a bullet wound. St. Petersburg Police determined the shooting was accidental after reviewing surveillance video from the area and interviewing witnesses, officials said.