News

Mother of UF Football Player Mike James Killed in Fatal Car Crash

December 27, 2010 - Haines City, FL - The mother of a prominent University of Florida football player was killed on December 20 when the car she was traveling in collided with another vehicle.

A news story from WTSP.com states that Polk County Sheriff's Office deputies responded to the Monday morning crash that left Elgusta T. James, 47, dead and her daughter and grandson injured. James, who is the mother of University of Florida running back Mike James, was ejected from the passenger seat of the car along with her grandson Jaden Pleasant, 5.

Neither James nor Pleasant were wearing a seatbelt at the time of the accident. The driver of the other vehicle, Paul Lopez, 60, was uninjured and was wearing a seat belt. The crash occurred at the intersection of Patterson Road and North 10^th Street, although no cause has been determined yet. Police are still investigating and no charges have been filed at this time.

There are many factors that can lead to fatal and serious injury car accidents. High rates of speed, impaired driving, reckless behavior, vehicle malfunction and weather conditions can all add to the likelihood that a serious accident will occur. If you are injured or lose a loved one in a Florida car accident, a St. Petersburg car accident attorney may be able to help you recover damages from your loss.

According to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles' 2009 Traffic Crash Statistics Report, there were 197,214 traffic crashes resulting in injury and 2,563 fatalities as a result of vehicle accidents in Florida.

As a service to the residents of St. Petersburg, our firm will frequently publish blogs about local traffic accidents. We do this to raise awareness about the common types of motor vehicle accidents that occur in Florida that may result in serious injury or traffic fatalities.

Common accidents include, but are not limited to: 

• single-car accidents;
• hit-and-run accidents;
• accidents caused by hazardous road conditions; and
• accidents caused by aggressive driving or distracted drivers. 

If you have been named in this blog or you are the victim's family member or friend and would like the blog removed from our website, please feel free to contact us and we will promptly accommodate your request.

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