In a second, lives changed forever

A 2 year old girl died while at a birthday party. Another 1 year old died because his father made a mistake with a car. A man is charged after road rage and a couple on a motorcycle will never be the same. Three different stories, seconds out of lives and no one involved in any of them will ever be the same. This is how trauma can alter everything we think, we believe and what we expect out of ourselves. These three stories were on Tampa Times this morning.

Brooksville girl, 2, drowns during birthday party
Times staff
Posted: Aug 02, 2009 11:13 AM


SPRING HILL — A 2-year-old Brooksville girl attending a birthday party wandered into a neighbor's pool and drowned Saturday afternoon, according to the Pasco County Sheriff's Office.

Shailyn Marie Shaw of 965 Candlelight Blvd., Apt. 46, Brooksville, was among about 12 children attending the party at 8180 Pagoda Drive. The children were playing on an inflatable ride in the backyard as adults watched. click link for more

1-year-old dies when father accidentally hits him with car
By Kim Wilmath, Times Staff Writer
Posted: Aug 03, 2009 06:32 AM

BRADENTON — A 1-year-old died Saturday night when his father accidentally hit him with his car in front of the family's apartment.

Troopers say the father, Miguel A. Aragon-Castro, 32, went outside to start his car at about 11 p.m. at the Manatee Woods Apartment complex. He went inside to get his two sons. But the car was apparently in first gear when he took out the clutch, and it lunged forward, pinning the younger Miguel Aragon-Figueroa to the outside wall of the apartment. He died.

Traffic incident erupts into gunfire at Tarpon Springs gas station
By Brant James, Times Staff Writer
Posted: Aug 03, 2009 10:48 AM

TARPON SPRINGS — A road rage incident escalated to attempted murder on Sunday when a man fired a handgun at two people he bumped from behind on U.S. 19, according to Bay News 9.

David Bowman, 34, is charged with attempted first-degree murder, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, carrying a concealed weapon, using a firearm while under the influence, simple battery and domestic battery from an incident earlier in the evening. He is being held in Pinellas County Jail in lieu of $30,750 bail.

Tarpon Springs police said Bowman, driving a white Oldsmobile, bumped a motorcycle carrying Pantelis Mastrovasi and Nichole Hill from behind around 8 p.m., prompting an argument that continued into a nearby Circle K parking lot. Police say Bowman then fired a shot, shattering a gas station window, before fleeing.