Around the region

Lake City man dies in crash on CR 100A

A Lake City man died early Monday morning after losing control of his car on County Road 100A just east of town.

Michael DeShay Perry, 25, was driving his 1998 Buick east on CR 100A near the intersection with NE Famu Lane about 12:42 a.m., the Florida Highway Patrol reported.

According to the FHP report, Perry lost control on a curve and his car veered off into a ditch. The car struck a tree and rolled several times before colliding with another tree.

An FHP investigator said the car came to rest on its roof in the yard of a home at the intersection of NE Voss Road and CR 100A.

Perry, who was not wearing a seat belt, was partially ejected from the vehicle. He was pronounced dead by Columbia County rescue personnel at the scene.

The FHP indicated that the preliminary investigation pointed to speed as factor in the fatal accident.

— Diane Chun

Single-car accident kills LaCrosse man

A LaCrosse man died and another man was critically injured in a single-car accident Sunday evening.

Marcus C. Moore of LaCrosse was traveling south on NW 218th Avenue just north of LaCrosse in his 2000 Oldsmobile Intrigue at a high rate of speed, according to a report from the Florida Highway Patrol.

He lost control of the vehicle, which spun out onto the shoulder, the FHP reported.

The left front of the car struck a fence, then two trees, before coming to rest on the east shoulder of NW 218th Avenue.

Moore, 32, was airlifted to Shands at the University of Florida, where he remained in critical condition Monday.

His passenger, 63-year-old Lee Calvin Johnson of LaCrosse, was pronounced dead at the scene by rescue personnel. Neither man had been wearing a seat belt, according to the FHP report.

— Diane Chun

STATE

N.D. couple drowned off Fort Lauderdale

FORT LAUDERDALE — A North Dakota couple drowned off the shore of Fort Lauderdale in strong seas caused by Hurricanes Gustav and Hanna.

Forty-one-year-old Bradley Perleberg and 45-year-old Terry Ann Perleberg drowned Sunday. Authorities said they were a truck driving couple from Jamestown, N.D. Her body washed ashore, while his was found by rescuers floating offshore.

Meanwhile in Dania Beach, Coast Guard authorities pulled the body of a 14-year-old boy out of the water. Dangerous rip currents also pulled him into the sea. A 12-year-old friend was rescued and was in stable condition.

— The Associated Press

Man dies after being run over following fight

MAYPORT — A man has died after a fight at a Mayport strip club.

Two men got into an argument Sunday morning inside the Bikini Beach Gentlemens Club. After the fight moved outdoors, the victim was run over by the suspect’s car. He died at the scene.

— The Associated Press

Fla. sextuplets in good health at first birthday

WESLEY CHAPEL — After 12 months of diapers, bottles and onesies, the Tampa area sextuplets are turning 1.

Ben and Karoline Byler’s babies were celebrating Monday with a Winnie the Pooh party. The five boys and one girl were born two-and-a-half months early weighing in at 3 pounds or less.

The Byler babies made national news with a visit from Gov. Charlie Crist and appearances on “Inside Edition.”

The community threw a huge shower and sponsors donated baby gear and food vouchers. The babies are healthy except for one, who sometimes needs oxygen. Round-the-clock nurses also help with some nanny duties.

Ben Byler, who runs a route for Pepperidge Farms, is already worrying about one of the biggest jobs he’ll have — potty training five little boys at once.

— The Associated Press

Car burglar picked the wrong place to hide

TAMPA — A suspected car burglar in Tampa made a dirty mistake when he hid out inside a Port-O-Let.

Tampa Police say 22-year-old Lorenzo Earl Knight broke into two cars Saturday. One of the owners fought Knight and chased him to a nearby construction site. Knight tried to hide in the Port-O-Let, but when the victim found him he overturned the toilet, dumping huge amounts of human waste on Knight.

Knight has been charged with auto burglary and possession of burglary tools.

— The Associated Press

Hotels searched after shooting reported

MELBOURNE — Police are searching three Central Florida hotels after a woman called room service and said her husband had been shot.

The woman called Rialto Place Hotel Melbourne on Sunday saying she had to leave. She did not say where she was, only that her husband shot himself in the head.

“It’s still a mystery,” said Lt. Ken Bale of the Melbourne Police Department.

— The Associated Press