By Kim Wilmath, Times Staff Writer
Saturday, August 14, 2010
Cited for violating right of way, Ambler was turning into the Cheval country club Saturday when his black SUV hit a Toyota.
LUTZ — State Rep. Kevin Ambler went to a hospital and was cited after a car crash on Saturday afternoon, the Florida Highway Patrol said.
Neither Ambler, R-Lutz, nor the other driver had serious injuries.
Ambler was turning left from N Dale Mabry Highway into the Cheval Golf and Country Club about 12:20 p.m. when his black Mercedes sport utility vehicle hit a southbound Toyota 4Runner, causing the Toyota to flip upside down, Trooper Jennifer Layton said.
One of Ambler's large campaign signs was posted just across the street. He is running against Jim Norman, a Hillsborough county commissioner, in the Republican primary for the District 12 state Senate seat.
Troopers said Ambler's wife drove him to St. Joseph's Hospital-North, and the 71-year-old female Toyota driver, Janet-Lee Thomas Troupe, was taken to University Community Hospital on Fletcher Avenue by ambulance.
Trooper Layton said Ambler, 49, was cited for violating the right of way, which comes with a $151 fine. Alcohol was not a factor in the crash, according to the Highway Patrol.
Ambler could not be reached for comment Saturday evening, and hospital employees would not release any additional information.
Ambler's previous traffic incidents include 10 speeding charges since 1999, state records show. Five of those occurred within the last five years, though adjudication was withheld on all but two. He got four points on his license in 2006 for driving 79 mph in a 55 mph zone in Taylor County, according to state records. In 2009, he got three points for driving 83 mph in a 70 mph zone in Madison County. When questioned recently about his driving record, Ambler said that he drives so many miles that the number of citations was simply "the law of averages."
Ambler has also been charged with operating a motor vehicle without proof of insurance, driving with a tag that was expired more than six months and failure to pay a traffic fine. Adjudication was withheld in the cases involving the insurance and expired tag.
Times staff writer Marlene Sokol contributed to this report. Kim Wilmath can be reached at kwilmath@sptimes.com or (813) 661-2442.