Tragedy Beats Guardrail Project
By DAVE NICHOLSON and GEORGE GRAHAM The Tampa Tribune
Published: Feb 14, 2006




PLANT CITY - If Shane Boswell's car had crashed into the median of Interstate 4 at Alexander Street a few weeks from now, the consequences might not have been so tragic.

In two or three weeks, crews will begin installing guardrails in the Plant City area to keep vehicles from crossing into opposing traffic. On Monday, the Tampa resident's 2001 Hyundai Tiburon hit another eastbound car, crossed the median and hit a tractor-trailer heading west, authorities said.

Boswell, 20, the father of a 4-month-old girl, was dead at the scene. A passenger in his car, Alexis Morris, 18, of Lakeland, died less than 12 hours later at Tampa General Hospital.

No one can say for sure whether Boswell and Morris would have survived if there had been guardrails in the median, but it's likely the car would have avoided a violent collision into oncoming traffic.

"Sure, it's frustrating when something like this happens," Florida Department of Transportation spokeswoman Kris Carson said. "This project will prevent crossover accidents, but the guardrails are not a cure-all for every accident."

Monday's wreck blocked westbound lanes at I-4 and Alexander Street after the 5:15 a.m. crash until about 1 p.m. Traffic backed up for miles as authorities routed vehicles onto a side road.

I-4 experienced a rash of deadly wrecks last year when vehicles crossed the median into opposing traffic, and the Florida Highway Patrol stepped up enforcement as part of a public safety campaign to cut the accident rate. The DOT has ordered guardrails installed from 50th Street in the Tampa area east to Polk County.

The crews will be in the Plant City area in two or three weeks, Carson said. Workers are completing the job at the rate of more than a mile a week, and the $7 million project should be finished by July, Carson said.

Troopers said Boswell was driving east on I-4 when for an unknown reason he struck the rear of an eastbound 1993 Mercury Grand Marquis, traveled across the median at Alexander Street and struck the trailer of a westbound 2003 International tractor-trailer hauling dry food products. The truck flipped, blocking the interstate's westbound lanes, Trooper Larry Coggins said.

Boswell died at the scene. Morris was airlifted to Tampa General, where she died about 4:30 p.m., troopers said. Neither was wearing a seat belt.

The truck driver, Richard Briseno, 54, of Plant City, had minor injuries and was taken to South Florida Baptist Hospital in Plant City.

The driver of the Mercury, Luis E. Cordoves, 56, of Orlando, was not injured.

Mike Bradley, a family friend, said Anthony Shane Boswell graduated from Tampa Bay Tech Senior High School and planned to go to the University of South Florida. He attended Durant and Plant City high schools before going to Tampa Bay Tech.

The family moved here in 2000 from Louisville, Ky. Boswell's father, Marc, is a basketball coach at McKeel Academy in Lakeland. His mother, Tammy, is a teacher at Marshall Middle School in Plant City.

His younger brother, Jordan Michael Boswell, 17, is a junior at Plant City High School, Bradley said.

Shane Boswell worked at a Chili's Grill & Bar at 2794 E. Fowler Ave. in Tampa.

Tammy Boswell said the thing she will remember most about her son is "he was very loving."

A memorial service is planned for 7:30 p.m. today at Walden Lake clubhouse.

Shane Boswell had a Web site, on which he said in part, "my love is two things my daughter Katlynn Hope Boswell and basketball." His mother said he hoped to try out for the USF basketball team.

He was separated from his wife, Miriam, who lives in Plant City.

Morris' family could not be reached for comment

 

bow your heads, we may have not known him but it could have been one of us...

 

Wow, thats so horrible. My condolences go to the families of these two people.

 

Thats terrible

 

Prayers out to thier families.

 

my heart goes to thier families

 

Most important line in the article:



Sorry, but I have no sympathy for anyone who is too dumb to put on a seat belt.

 

Ya, its still sad though.

 

Of all the car's in all the countries I've driven, I feel least safe in my Tib.

But then again, a hummer smashing into a tractor trailor + no seatbelt is still gonna = bye bye

Drive safe ya'll.

 

QUOTE REMOVED please dont quote the guy above you and while your at it update your profile to include tib year and location
yeah come on man please wear a seatbelt my cuzin died last saturday she was only 19 it hurts so bad part of the reason is because she wasnt wearing a seatbelt she drove a celica