LOL!
Posted on 04/27/2005 3:36:48 AM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
TAMPA - Vincent Edward Tucker refused to get out of the fast lane when a man driving a large, black SUV pulled up behind him honking the horn on the Courtney Campbell Parkway Tuesday morning.
Tampa police say that's when the road rage began.
The SUV was relentless, and Tucker just wouldn't budge, witnesses said. They told investigators that the SUV's driver and Tucker got into a "heated argument" while traveling westbound on the Courtney Campbell, police spokeswoman Laura McElroy said. Gestures were exchanged by both, possibly even words, she said.
The black SUV eventually got into the right lane and passed Tucker's silver Isuzu Rodeo, then veered back into the fast lane, cutting him off, McElroy said. Tucker tried to avoid hitting the SUV by slamming on his brakes.
McElroy said the two vehicles never collided, but Tucker's maneuver caused his Rodeo to flip, and he was ejected because he wasn't wearing a seat belt. He later died in surgery at Tampa General Hospital.
The SUV driver never stopped.
"We have road rage. We have a hit and run. We have somebody who is dead," McElroy said. "And we have to find who is responsible."
The accident happened about 11:30 a.m. between the Ben T. Davis beach and a boat ramp west of there. McElroy said police hit-and-run detectives believe the SUV driver was a man, based on information from the only two drivers who had come forward with details Tuesday afternoon.
McElroy could only describe the hit-and-run vehicle as "a shiny, full-size SUV."
"This is a very serious accident, a very serious crime, and we have to find this driver," McElroy said. "We're going to assume that this is going to weigh very heavily on the conscience of the person involved."
McElroy said the driver of the black SUV had to have known that Tucker's vehicle flipped. She said she hopes that if he talks with family members or friends about the incident, they will call police.
Vincent Tucker, 33, lived at 7101 Lawnview Court with his mother, Glenda Tucker. A woman who answered the door at their Town 'N Country home Tuesday evening said the family did not wish to speak with reporters.
Cynthia Alvarez, who lives across the street from the Tuckers, has a son a year older than Vincent Tucker.
She said she often spoke with Tucker's mother because their sons had a lot in common.
"Vince is a very quiet person," she said. "He is either at work or back home."
Alvarez has known Tucker and his mother since they both moved into the neighborhood about four years ago. Before living in Florida, the Tucker family lived in North Carolina, according to state records.
Alvarez said Tucker spent most of his time watching television or using the computer.
He worked in Pinellas County for a company that made hotel reservations, she said. And whenever she or her son needed anything, like the time her car broke down, Tucker and his mother offered to help.
"I would like that driver to please come forward," Alvarez said. "There is just no reason why anyone would do something so stupid in the road that would take someone's life."
Detectives ask that anyone who may have information about the SUV driver call Tampa police at (813) 276-3578.
Times researcher Cathy Wos contributed to this story. Kevin Graham can be reached at 813 226-3433 or kgraham@sptimes.com
Read what I said. My gun is for self-defense purposes. If some jerk decides to go postal on me (apologies muawiyah), I am prepared to deal with it.
Why do so many people on this thread seem to have problems with basic reading comprehension?
LOL!
I know exactly what you mean and I agree with you.
I always try to get out of the left hand lane, but sometimes it takes a second or two. If a jerk in a black SUV starts tail gating me right away, not giving me a chance to get over, and he can see that I cannot get over,
I let him stew back there for a few more seconds. I am an aggressive driver, and constantly remind myself to back off,
and give the jerk in the left hand lane a chance to move over. So give me a chance to get over, and I will.
Seems obvious that you should stay right except to pass....apparently, left-laners are "special" and this should not apply.
Uh, duh, when you're making a left-hand turn you have to be in the left lane. And I'm not a left-laner by any stretch.
"Thank goodness I have my conceal-carry permit and compact .45 to deal with poo-slinging, a**-brained tailgaters [with a violent streak]
Intellectual dishonesty: the calling card of liberals and gun grabbers everywhere. Have a nice day.
Now I understand. I have heard about those cases myself.
If you're saying that driving slower than the general flow of traffic is less dangerous than going the same speed as everyone else, then I disagree. You're going to get lots of people slamming on the brakes unexpectedly, which will result in flow problems. Especially at rush hour.
But even if the 'flow' exceeds the speed limit, there is always the jerk who gets on everyone's bumper, even when there are 5 cars in front and to the right of him all going the same speed, ABOVE the limit.
I drive fast, I travel all over the state, but I don't freak if I get in a pack of folks going slow. That is life, such is the nature of traffic. But there are those who truly can't handle not being in control--and going FASTER than everyone...even if everyone is going FASTER than the limit!!! They are insane. (no joke)
Those are the folks that need to have their licenses revoked and be sentenced to 3 months cleaning public toilets at the beach. No, make that a year.
Probably just what the dead driver of the Rodeo was thinking, don't you think?
In heavy traffic - the scenario in this thread could have caused a chain reaction - killing and injuring innocent drivers and their passengers.
Good, Chickie was getting annoyed.
Not in my State, at least as of 35 years ago.
Look, you have every right to believe that nobody should drive above posted speed limits, but in the real world most people drive at, above, and/or below depending on road conditions, what the surrounding drivers are up to, their soaking wet pregnant wife in the passenger seat, all kinds of things.
But the overriding rule that can keep everybody relatively happy and traffic flowing smoothly is (with noted exceptions for left hand exit ramps) that slower traffic is supposed to keep right.
Unless you are a Law Enforcement Officer (doubt it) you are not entitled to enforce the speed limit on others by blocking a lane. If and when you do so please don't be surprised at a negative reaction to your driving.
You can't define it, and neither can I. The final arbiter of the merge is the end block. I'd just as soon every car would aim for the end block and every other car in the flow lane would leave a space for merging at that point. It's not gonna happen, so I prefer to drive in the reality and not the fantasy. Then nobody has to "force" their way in.
BTW, that same mindset happens on perfectly legal on-ramp merges. Folks don't want to allow other folks into the flow of traffic ahead of them. Be honest. When we close ranks, it's really about not letting someone get the better of us. To the detriment of everyone behind us.
I think it's far better to extend grace to the undeserving than to try and triumph over petty tresspassers.
What does ZOT mean?
Rush hour is a "flow problem".
If others are speeding faster than I am comfortable driving I just drive the limit and they can pass me. This is also a good time to notify LE.
The quote from the NJ driver's manual makes sense if you are talking about 2-lane roads. We are speaking of Interstate quality highways. It is not required to KEEP RIGHT on those roads.
I always do.
Safe and armed.
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