By Stephen Thompson
Tampa Tribune
CLEARWATER, Fla. — As a school crossing guard, it was Doug Carey’s job to protect youngsters as they walked across one of the city’s most accident-prone intersections.
Instead, the retired Clearwater police officer became the unlikely casualty of a two-car wreck that authorities said was caused by a Cadillac running a red light.
Cary was killed; two preschool-age girls in the Cadillac were injured.
Carey, 70, was standing at the northwest corner of Gulf-to-Bay Boulevard and Belcher Road just before 9 a.m. when the Cadillac, driven by Julious Johnson, 28, sped through the intersection, running a red light, while heading west on Gulf to Bay, police said.
The Cadillac, which was in the far right lane, crashed into a Honda, which was eastbound on Gulf-to-Bay and trying to turn north onto Belcher. The Cadillac then struck Carey.
Johnson then fled, leaving the girls behind, police said. A police officer located him in the 300 block of Gunn Avenue and took him into custody.
During an interview, police said Julious Johnson admitted to running on foot from the crash scene because he had a suspended license. He has been charged with leaving the scene of a crash resulting in death, leaving the scene of a crash with serious injury, driving while license was suspended or revoked resulting in death, driving while license was suspended or revoked resulting in serious injury, two charges of aggravated child neglect, resisting arrest without violence, and possession of marijuana.
The girls, Julyisa Johnson, 4, and Julyia Johnson, 2, were being treated at Bayfront Health St. Petersburg, police said. Julyisa Johnson sustained multiple fractures and a possible head injury, and Julyia Johnson had minor injuries. Both are in stable condition this afternoon, police said.
The Honda driver, Alexandria Clark, 22, was taken to Morton Plant Hospital for precautionary reasons, police said.
Carey was hired by Clearwater police Dec. 9, 1968, as a patrolman and retired June, 12, 1987. He has worked as a temporary seasonal police aide since March 15, 2010.
The intersection, which was closed for about eight hours after the crash, was listed as the second-most accident-prone intersection in Clearwater out of 50, behind U.S. 19 and Gulf-to-Bay down the street.
From 2008 through 2012, there were 109 crashes at Gulf-to-Bay and Belcher, and 150 at U.S. 19 and Gulf-to-Bay, according to statistics compiled by the city.
Of the top 50 accident-prone intersections, 12 are on Gulf-to-Bay, the main thoroughfare for accessing Clearwater’s beaches.
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