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Briefs

Boy, 3, hospitalized after he's struck by car

By wire services
Published December 26, 2005

DUNEDIN - A 3-year-old suffered serious and possibly life-threatening injuries in Dunedin Sunday when he was hit by a car.

The child, James Richard Fraze, was visiting the mother of his father's girlfriend at 2261 Curlew Road, just west of U.S. 19, with his father and siblings. His father, Richard Edward Fraze, 34, of 6261 76th Ave. N in Pinellas Park, left the home and walked toward his truck, parked across the single-lane road, unaware that his son was following him.

The boy was hit by a car driven by Sandra V. Bertola, 65, of Oldsmar about 6 p.m. Bertola, a nursing assistant, administered aid until paramedics arrived, a spokeswoman said.

He was flown to St. Joseph's Hospital in Tampa. His condition was not available Sunday night.

Man missing from ALF discovered dead in lake

ST. PETERSBURG - A 56-year-old man who wandered away from an assisted living facility Saturday was found dead Sunday after apparently drowning in a lake at 6600 13th St. N, police said.

Carey Mauldin Gammons was reported missing about 6 p.m. from Patrick Manor, 896 73rd Ave. N. A resident of the neighborhood near the lake saw the floating body early Sunday and called police.

"There is no foul play suspected at this time and the unfortunate incident appears to be a drowning," according to a police news release. "The medical examiner will determine the exact cause of death."

Officials at Patrick Manor were unavailable Sunday.

Report: Man shot self after 10-hour standoff

LAKELAND - An autopsy indicates that a man found dead after a nearly 10-hour standoff with deputies died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the chest, authorities said Sunday.

Eric Cousins, 21, allegedly shot a woman during a robbery attempt early Friday, then led Polk County deputies on a car chase before barricading himself in a Lakeland home, authorities said.

Cousins exchanged gunfire with a deputy, but did not respond when authorities tried to contact him and fired tear gas into the house, sheriff's spokesman Michal Shanley said.

A robot sent into the house found Cousins dead at 11 a.m.

[Last modified December 26, 2005, 00:43:13]