news Third Time’s the Charm?
Gulfport Officials Look at Solutions After Third Crash at Trolley Market Square For the third time since opening in 2019, Gulfport’s Trolley Market Square is covered in caution tape, awaiting repair after a vehicle crash – most recently on Saturday, September 25 around 2 a.m. Ronald Hester, 68, of St. Petersburg crashed into the 49th Street-facing entrance of the park at 4900 Tangerine Ave. S., while traveling westbound across 49th Street in a 1993 Chevy pickup truck early Saturday morning. According to the Gulfport Police Department, Hester fled the scene on foot and was identified and arrested by Gulfport Police officers while being treated for injuries at a nearby hospital. “There was a blood trail leading to the 1800 block of 49th Street,” said GPD Public Information Officer Thomas Woodman. “While Gulfport officers were investigating the scene, [Hester] had called the St. Petersburg Fire Department to his home for injuries related to the crash.” Hester was unlicensed and charged with a careless driving citation, a misdemeanor for leaving the scene of an accident and a habitual traffic offender felony. “He claims he was robbed by knife while driving the vehicle,” Woodman said. “There is nothing indicating that there was anyone else in the
PAUL RAY
By Abby Baker
vehicle with him at the time of the crash.”
It’s unclear for now who will cover the damages. Stretch of Road
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“You have a very long street with pretty much no stop signs...of course there were some extenuating circumstances in this case,” Gulfport Chief of Police Robert Vincent said. In each of the three crash incidents, the park’s stone barrier prevented the vehicles from damaging the actual “square” or the bright red trolley that gives the park its name. The stretch that is 18th Avenue has split jurisdiction between the GPD [west side] and the St. Peters-
theGabber.com | October 7, 2021 - October 13, 2021
