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Articles written by Tom Lemons


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  • Head-On Collision Kills Spring Hill Woman, Injures Two Others

    Tom Lemons, December 20, 2024|Updated Dec 20, 2024

    BROOKSVILLE, FL – A head-on collision led to the death of a Spring Hill woman and injured two others, Thursday evening. According to the Florida Highway Patrol, a 35-year-old Weeki Wachee man was traveling northbound on Sunshine Grove Road in a Honda Odyssey when he turned into the path of a Nissan SUV traveling southbound. The resulting head-on collision caused fatal injuries to a 41-year-old female driver in the SUV, and she died at the scene. A 19-year-old female p...

  • Bucket Truck Overturns Blocking SR-54

    Tom Lemons, December 20, 2024|Updated Dec 20, 2024

    NEW PORT RICHEY, FL – An unexpected turn across a raised median led to a nasty mess on SR-54 this afternoon. According to the Florida Highway Patrol, a 68-year-old woman was traveling southbound on Cita Lane when she crossed the westbound lanes of SR-54, drove across a raised median, and collided with a Ford bucket truck. The impact caused the truck to overturn, blocking both directions of travel. Both drivers suffered non-life-threatening injuries. ---...

  • Man Dies After Being Run Over by RV

    Tom Lemons, December 19, 2024|Updated Dec 20, 2024

    LECANTO, FL – A tragic chain of events led to the death of a Montgomery, Alabama man Wednesday after he was run over by an RV, say officials. According to the Florida Highway Patrol, A 65-year-old man was helping direct traffic on SR-44 while the 64-year-old male driver of an Allegro RV backed out of a driveway near Maynard Ave. Officials say the 30-year-old driver of a Dodge pickup failed to observe the victim standing in the roadway and struck him. The victim then fell to t...

  • Multi-Vehicle Crash Closes I-75 for Several Hours

    Tom Lemons, December 18, 2024|Updated Dec 19, 2024

    WESLEY CHAPEL, FL – A multi-vehicle crash on I-75 injured one person and closed southbound lanes for several hours this morning. According to the Florida Highway Patrol, at 7:45 a.m. a BMW 330E merged into the path of a tractor-trailer, which caused a chain reaction involving three other vehicles, including a second tractor-trailer. Only one person suffered serious injuries in the crash. The roadway reopened to traffic at 11:19 a.m. -----...

  • Pedestrian Struck and Killed on US-19

    Tom Lemons, December 16, 2024|Updated Dec 18, 2024

    HUDSON, FL – A 40-year-old Hudson man was struck and killed after attempting to cross US-19 early Monday. According to the Florida Highway Patrol, just after 2:00 a.m., the victim attempted to cross just south of Sea Ranch Drive when he was struck by a Hyundai Tucson traveling northbound on US-19. The victim later died at a nearby hospital. The driver and a passenger in the vehicle were not injured....

  • Pedestrian Dies After Being Struck by Motorcycle

    Tom Lemons, December 16, 2024|Updated Dec 16, 2024

    NEW PORT RICHEY, FL – A pedestrian was struck and killed after being struck by a motorcycle on US-19 Sunday evening. According to the Florida Highway Patrol, a 64-year-old Fort Myers man was crossing US-19 just north of Seward Drive when he was struck by a Harley Davidson motorcycle operated by a 60-year-old Port Richey man. The pedestrian suffered fatal injuries and died at the scene. The motorcyclist and his 41-year-old female passenger suffered serious i...

  • Elderly Man Dies in Two-Vehicle Crash

    Tom Lemons, December 15, 2024|Updated Dec 16, 2024

    DADE CITY, FL – The Florida Highway Patrol is reporting the death of an 87-year-old man involved in a crash on US-301 early Saturday morning. According to reports, an 83-year-old Dade City man was traveling westbound on Ashbrook Road and attempted to turn northbound on US-301. At the same time, the victim was traveling northbound and was struck by the other vehicle. Both drivers were transported to local hospitals, where the victim later died....

  • Teenager Dies in Crash Attempting to Avoid Head-On Collision

    Tom Lemons, December 13, 2024|Updated Dec 13, 2024

    SPRING HILL (PASCO), FL – A teenager lost his life Thursday after he was involved in a collision on US-41. According to the Florida Highway Patrol, a 17-year-old male driver from Tampa was traveling southbound in the area of Little Lake Road. At the same time, a 45-year-old Spring Hill man was traveling northbound and was attempting to pass traffic ahead of him. In an attempt to avoid a head-on collision, the teenage driver swerved, struck a concrete culvert, and then f...

  • Arson Investigation Underway at Local Gas Station

    Tom Lemons, December 13, 2024|Updated Dec 13, 2024

    SPRING HILL, FL – A search is underway for a suspect who sources say attempted to set fire to the RaceTrac gas station. Fire Rescue responded to the RaceTrac located at Cortez Blvd and Deltona Blvd around 10:30 a.m. this morning after reports of a commercial fire. It was soon determined the fire may have been set intentionally, which prompted a search for a possible suspect. According to the Hernando County Sheriff's Office, deputies are currently searching for a white m...

  • Man Charged with Unlicensed Electrical Contracting

    Tom Lemons, December 12, 2024|Updated Dec 13, 2024

    BROOKSVILLE, FL – Hernando County Government Officials are reporting the arrest of an unlicensed contractor who was conducting business on Hernando Beach. According to reports, 40-year-old Brandon Robert Vicente was arrested at the Hernando County Courthouse Wednesday after officials say he was performing unlicensed electrical contracting in the Hernando Beach area. Vicente is charged with four counts of unlicensed contracting and released on a $10,000 bond. Vicente was a...

  • Several Shootings Leave Residents Baffled at Response by Law Enforcement

    Tom Lemons, December 8, 2024|Updated Dec 12, 2024

    SPRING HILL, FL – Residents of a typically quiet neighborhood in Spring Hill are up in arms over recent shootings, and one woman says the Sheriff's Office is ignoring the problem. Over the last few years, Spring Hill has seen a rise in violent crime, including shootings, stabbings, carjackings, and home invasions. Many say Hernando County Sheriff Al Nienhuis has ignored the problem for political reasons and consistently claims crime is down in Spring Hill. Rebecca Kielbon a...

  • Brooksville Man Dies in UTV Crash

    Tom Lemons, December 8, 2024|Updated Dec 8, 2024

    BROOKSVILLE, FL – A Brooksville man died early Sunday morning after crashing a Polaris side-by-side, say officials. According to reports, the 36-year-old driver and three female passengers were traveling northbound when he lost control of the vehicle, struck a fence, and then overturned. The driver suffered fatal injuries and died at the scene. The three passengers, ages 36, 11, and 10, were uninjured in the crash....

  • Investigation Underway Into Fatal Small-Engine Plane Crash

    Tom Lemons, December 6, 2024|Updated Dec 7, 2024

    UPDATE: December 6, 2024, 8:05 p.m. - An adult male occupant of the aircraft was pronounced deceased at the scene of the crash. The FAA and NTSB are leading the Investigation. HOMOSASSA, FL – The Citrus County Sheriff's Office is reporting the crash of a small-engine aircraft at the intersection of US-19 and Longfellow Street. The crash occurred just after 8:00 p,m, this evening, and there are unconfirmed reports of at least one fatality. According to the Florida Highway P...

  • City Manager Confirms Major Loss of Revenue, Resignation of Chief of Police

    Tom Lemons, December 6, 2024|Updated Dec 6, 2024

    PORT RICHEY, FL – Last month R News reported the sudden resignation of Port Richey Police Chief Cyrus Robinson after the city discovered what was alleged to be nearly a half-million dollars in lost revenue. R News had an opportunity to speak with City Manager Matthew Coppler, who confirmed the resignation and the loss of approximately $300,000 in Red Light Camera Citations. Coppler tells R News, "He [Robinson] did resign, and tomorrow [Tuesday, December 3, 2024] will be his t...

  • County Votes to Transfer Animal Service to Sheriff's Office, Ignoring Expert Testimony

    Tom Lemons, December 5, 2024|Updated Dec 6, 2024

    BROOKSVILLE, FL – The fight over who will control Hernando County Animal Services (HCAS) came to a close Tuesday after the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) voted 3:2 to hand over operations to the Sheriff's Office. Former Commissioner Beth Narverud spearheaded efforts to transfer control of Animal Services to Sheriff Nienhuis amid accusations of corruption and assisting Nienhuis in his effort to seek revenge on his former third in command, now-HCAS Manager, James Terry. I...

  • Tampa Man Dies in Motorcycle Crash on I-75

    Tom Lemons, December 6, 2024|Updated Dec 6, 2024

    ZEPHYRHILLS, FL – A Tampa Man died Thursday in a two-vehicle crash on I-75 involving a motorcycle. According to the Florida Highway Patrol, the 37-year-old driver of a Harley Davidson motorcycle was traveling northbound on I-75, north of SR-56, when he collided with the rear of a Chevy Trax traveling in the same direction. As a result of the collision, the driver was ejected from the motorcycle and suffered fatal injuries at the scene. A 26-year-old woman driving the Trax s...

  • Commissioners Poised to Vote on Transferring Animal Services to Sheriff's Office

    Tom Lemons, December 2, 2024|Updated Dec 5, 2024
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    BROOKSVILLE, FL – A contentious battle over who will run Hernando County Animal Services will come to an end tomorrow after County Commissioners cast a final vote on the measure. Tempers flared last October when outgoing Commissioner Beth Narverud refused to allow the newly elected commission to make the final decision. Narverud and Sheriff Al Nienhuis conspired to remove control of Animal Services over the last two years, despite pushback from residents who believe the p...

  • Altercation Between Siblings Ends in Murder-Suicide

    Tom Lemons, December 2, 2024|Updated Dec 2, 2024

    SPRING HILL, FL – A heated altercation between two brothers ended tragically Friday in what officials are calling a murder-suicide. According to reports, deputies responded to the 2300 Block of Covington Ave around 11:25 p.m. Friday, after receiving a call from 39-year-old Anthony Coyle who claimed he had just shot his brother. Coyle told the 911 operator where the gun would be located and said he would be waiting outside for deputies. Upon arrival, deputies made contact w...

  • Deadly Crash Claims Life of Spring Hill Man

    Tom Lemons, December 2, 2024|Updated Dec 2, 2024

    SPRING HILL, FL – A near head-on collision claimed the life of a Spring Hill man on Friday, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. According to officials, the 19-year-old driver of a Nissan Altima was traveling westbound on Northcliffe Blvd, when for unknown reasons, he veered across the median and struck a Chevy Malibu driven by a 61-year-old woman. Both drivers suffered serious injuries, including a 35-year-old male passenger in the Malibu who later died from his i...

  • BREAKING: Port Richey Police Chief Suddenly Resigns, Possibly Linked to Half Million in Lost Revenue

    Tom Lemons, November 27, 2024|Updated Nov 27, 2024

    PORT RICHEY, FL – Matthew Coppler, the City Manager for Port Richey, Florida, announced last Tuesday that a new interim Chief of Police will lead the department after the sudden resignation of Cyrus Robinson. According to an email sent to all department personnel on November 19th, Coppler stated that Captain Michael Koch will lead the department until a permanent chief is hired to fill the position. There have been no public announcements from City Officials, but sources t...

  • New Port Richey Woman Struck and Killed by Propane Truck

    Tom Lemons, November 25, 2024|Updated Nov 27, 2024

    NEW PORT RICHEY, FL – The Florida Highway Patrol is reporting the death of a pedestrian who was struck and killed in SR-54 Monday. According to reports, the driver of a propane tanker was traveling westbound on Sr-54 and attempted to turn northbound onto Grand Blvd. At the same time, a 43-year-old woman was using the crosswalk to cross SR-54 and was struck by the truck. The woman suffered fatal injuries and died at the scene. -----...

  • Rescuers Free Entrapped Occupants of Rollover Crash

    Tom Lemons, November 20, 2024|Updated Nov 20, 2024

    BROOKSVILLE, FL – Two people suffered serious injuries this afternoon in a rollover crash at a notoriously dangerous intersection. According to Hernando County Fire Rescue officials, just after 12:30 p.m., a rollover crash involving a pickup truck at Ayers Road and Culbreath Road left two occupants trapped in the wreckage. Responding units were forced to cut away the roof to free the two occupants, who both suffered serious injuries, according to reports. Ayers and C...

  • UPDATE: Victim Dies in Hit and Run Crash into Residence

    Tom Lemons, November 19, 2024|Updated Nov 20, 2024

    UPDATE 11/20/2024: According to officials, the victim expired this afternoon from injuries suffered overnight following a hit-and-run crash. The assailant remains at large at this time. Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to call *FHP (*347) or Crime Stoppers at **TIPS. LAND O'LAKES, FL – A Tampa man was seriously injured after a vehicle crashed into a residence on US-41 early Tuesday. According to the Florida Highway Patrol, around 12:30 a.m. Tuesday, a C...

  • Family Demands Answers After Patient Dies at Local Mental Health Facility

    Tom Lemons, November 17, 2024|Updated Nov 19, 2024

    SPRING HILL, FL – A death investigation is underway at a local mental health facility after a 27-year-old man died Saturday. The decedent's aunt, Valorie Brown, contacted R News Sunday after officials at Springbrook Hospital notified her that her nephew, Jerod Travis Tabor, had passed away while in their care. Brown told R News during a tearful interview that her nephew was diagnosed with schizophrenia after smoking marijuana and doing 'Spice' in college several years ago, b...

  • Spring Hill Man Dies in Motorcycle Crash

    Tom Lemons, November 17, 2024|Updated Nov 17, 2024

    SPRING HILL, FL – A single-vehicle motorcycle crash claimed the life of a Spring Hill man Saturday. According to the Florida Highway Patrol, the 41-year-old driver of a Harley Davidson motorcycle was traveling eastbound on Spring Hill Drive when he lost control and struck a median near Spring Park Way. Subsequently, the driver was thrown from the motorcycle and suffered serious injuries. Transported to a nearby hospital, the driver later died from his injur...

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