Crash kills man, injures boy

St. Petersburg (Florida) Times; Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Byline: Helen Anne Travis, Times Staff Writer

ZEPHYRHILLS — A 62-year-old man was killed and his 8-year-old passenger gravely injured Monday morning when their car collided head-on with a semitrailer truck.

The wreck happened at 7:40 a.m. Monday at Old Lakeland Highway and Lynbrook Drive.

Docky Cook was killed. The youngster, Spencer Harrellson, was taken to St. Joseph's Hospital in Tampa, where he remained in critical condition Monday evening.

The Florida Highway Patrol said the driver of the truck, Donald A. Stevenson, 49, of Durant, was southbound on Old Lakeland Highway, approaching the intersection of Lynbrook Drive. Cook was headed north on Old Lakeland in a four-door Dodge sedan.

Troopers say Stevenson braked behind a slower-moving vehicle in front of him and lost control of his truck.

Stevenson's truck jackknifed into the northbound lane, in front of the path of the Dodge, the FHP said. The front of the truck struck the left side and left front of the Dodge, and both skidded into a ditch at the northeast corner of the intersection.

Crews from Zephyrhills Fire Rescue and the FHP responded, as did a medical helicopter. Cook, of Zephyrhills, died at the scene. Spencer, of Dade City, was airlifted to the hospital.

Linda Nunn, 65, of Plant City, is a distant relative of Cook's by marriage. "I got a message from my daughter-in-law to call the church and pray," she said.

 Members of neither Cook's nor Spencer's immediate families could be reached for comment Monday evening.

It is not known whether or how Cook was related to Spencer, nor where the two were headed.

Stevenson suffered minor injuries, according to the FHP. The patrol is still investigating.