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Four Injured In Wreck Near New High School

September 15, 2005

Four people were injured in a two-car accident on State Road 70 that happened near a main entry to the new Braden River High School in Bradenton.

Erik G. Coxe, 28, of the 4300 block of Midland Road in Sarasota, was heading east on State Road 70 at about 3:45 p.m. when his Nissan collided with a Chevrolet that was turning left onto Caruso Road on a red light, the Florida Highway Patrol said. The Nissan spun around the intersection while the Chevrolet, driven by Jaime Lee Britton, 22, of Bradenton, ricocheted and ended up in the grassy median, authorities said. Coxe was flown to Bayfront Medical Center in St. Petersburg with critical injuries. Britton, her 16-year-old brother and another passenger were taken to Lakewood Ranch Medical Center.

The accident caused a jam that blocked eastbound afternoon traffic past Natalie Way and happened after school let out. Dennis Hickey was working on a construction project to widen Caruso Road when he heard the crash. He and several other people ran to Coxe's car to help. Anthony Velardi, who was in his truck at the intersection, said he tilted Coxe's head back to help him breathe while they waited for paramedics.

Several workers from nearby offices said the intersection has become busier since the recent opening of Braden River High. Parents have complained that their children must walk or ride bicycles across the multiple lanes of S.R. 70 because a state law prevents the schools from busing students who live within two miles of their school. 'It's too dangerous, the road moves too quick. There's too much traffic with the new school,' said Robert Stipanov, a dentist who works nearby.