By Lorri Helfand and Danny Valentine, Times Staff Writers
Friday, November 26, 2010
CLEARWATER — Barbara Cumings was taking a shower when she heard a resounding clap.
"I thought it was thunder," said Cumings, 65.
By the time she dressed and walked outside her Clearwater villa, she saw emergency crews performing CPR on someone near the intersection of Curlew and Countryside Boulevard N.
There was a crash in the intersection around 10 a.m. Friday. Two people were killed after an 18-wheel semi-trailer truck struck a gold Toyota Camry, according to authorities.
The crash shut down Curlew's eastbound lanes and all northbound and southbound lanes on Countryside Boulevard for hours.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, the Camry was traveling westbound on Curlew and the semi, which had a Diel-Jerue Logistics logo, was heading east on the road. The Camry made a left turn onto Countryside in the path of the semi, causing it to collide with the passenger side of the car.
The passenger of the Camry was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver was transported to Mease Countryside Hospital, and was pronounced dead by emergency room staff.
The truck driver, who declined to give his name, said the Camry turned in front of him. He said he was carrying a half load at the time.
After the crash, the Camry spun into a third vehicle, which was waiting to cross the intersection.
Florida Highway Patrol troopers were dispatched to the scene about 10:19 a.m.
Cumings and other neighbors said there are frequent accidents at the intersection, but most of them are fender benders.
One neighbor, Brad Kugler, who was unable to drive home because of the road blocks, said it was the third crash there in the past month.
"I've lived her 13 years," Cumings said. "This is the worst accident I've seen at the corner."
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Times staff writer Douglas R. Clifford also contributed to this report.