Crash Scene Photos

By ANDRIY R. PAZUNIAK and VALERIE KALFRIN
The Tampa Tribune

TAMPA - A Tampa man died in a car crash on his birthday Friday morning after running a stop sign and striking a glass truck, according to police.

The crash occurred at the intersection of Columbus Drive and North 40th Street when a white Chevrolet Suburban that Tampa police observed from a helicopter ran a red light and T-boned the truck at approximately 4 a.m., Tampa police spokeswoman Laura McElroy said.

Aaron Higginbotham, who turned 47 today, was ejected from the vehicle and taken to Tampa General Hospital where he died.

The accident blocked traffic at the intersection Friday morning as police investigated the scene.

The driver of the glass truck, William Parks Jr., 72, 9016 Arndale Circle, Tampa, was also taken to Tampa General Hospital and is listed in stable condition. McElroy said he was not wearing a seat belt, but he is expected to recover.

McElroy offered the following account:

An officer first sighted Higginbotham, 3110 E. Columbus Drive, Tampa, parked in behind a 7-11 at Columbus and Himes avenues. The officer wondered if the man intended to rob the convenience store because he was parked outside for several moments, McElroy said.

When the officer circled around the convenience store, the SUV was gone. Police then found the vehicle in a nearby neighborhood and watched it run a stop sign on Glen Avenue, then turn east onto Columbus. The officer did not pull over the Chevrolet for running the stop sign because the driver’s actions continued to be suspicious, McElroy said. “It was obvious the car was fleeing,” she said.

The officer followed the Chevrolet without turning on the patrol car’s lights and sirens. When a police helicopter responded and began to watch the Chevrolet also, the patrol car backed off.

“We’re not going to chase for (running) a stop sign,” McElroy said.

The Chevrolet turned north onto Boulevard, then east onto Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard before heading south on Interstate 275. It eventually exited off at Floribraska Avenue, headed south onto Central Avenue and east onto Columbus Drive, police said.

There were no high rate of speeds until the driver reached Columbus after leaving the interstate, McElroy said. At that point, the helicopter noticed the driver pick up speed and radioed that the motorist was driving recklessly. Officers on the ground “stayed at a safe distance,” she said.

The driver ran a red light at Columbus Drive and North 40th Street, striking the glass truck, McElroy said.

Public records show Higginbotham has a history of auto theft arrests and a previous charge of fleeing police.

At the time of the crash, the ownership of the Chevrolet was not clear. It’s original owner had reported to police that Higginbotham had agreed to buy the it but hadn’t yet paid for it, McElroy said. However, it was not considered stolen, she said.

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