Around the Region - Jan. 6

Published: Tuesday, January 6, 2009 at 6:01 a.m.
Last Modified: Tuesday, January 6, 2009 at 1:29 a.m.

POLICE BEAT

Police find driver who fled crash

After a brief manhunt, officers found a driver who left the scene of a Columbia County crash with injuries Sunday night, the Florida Highway Patrol reported.

Troopers and Columbia County Sheriff's deputies using police dogs searched for the driver of a van that witnesses said veered into the path of an approaching car, according to FHP. The wreck occurred on County Road 238, north of October Road, at 8:42 p.m.

A van, driven by Joseph A. Corrao, 37, of Lake City, was heading east on CR 238 when it drove into the path of a westbound Acura carrying Christopher Cody Glenn, 22, of Lake City, and Randall Lee Proffitt, 24, of Lake Butler, troopers reported. The two vehicles collided in an angled, head-on type of collision.

Corrao left the scene, and officers started the manhunt, according to FHP.

The three men were taken to area hospitals, all in serious condition, troopers reported.

— Lise Fisher

Bronson looking for stolen truck

The town of Bronson is looking for one of its largest possessions, a flatbed work truck with the town's emblem on the doors.

The 1999, white, Ford F350-model truck had dual axles and red, white and blue emblems on the door which featured an eagle. The truck was kept behind a chain link fence near the Bronson High School football field.

According to Capt. Evan Sullivan of the Levy County Sheriff's Office, someone apparently broke into the town yard between Dec. 30 and Monday at 7 a.m. by lifting the entrance gate off its hinges.

Anyone with information on where to find the truck is asked to call 352-486-5111.

— Karen Voyles

COMMUNITY

Arrington to serve as interim at IFAS

A longtime University of Florida faculty member and administrator will serve as interim senior vice president for agriculture and natural resources.

Larry Arrington will assume his new position Jan. 12. He succeeds Jimmy Cheek, who was named in October as chancellor of the University of Tennessee at Knoxville.

Arrington, 55, came to UF in 1981 as a faculty member in agricultural education and communication. Since 2003, he has served as dean and director of UF's Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Extension.

— Nathan Crabbe

SFC telescope to travel to Eastside

The Santa Fe College Kika Silva Pla Planetarium's monthly telescope outreach program will be at Eastside High School on Wednesday from sunset to 8:30 p.m.

The free program allows the public to view the night sky through a portable telescope. On Wednesday, the moon, Venus, the Orion Nebula, and possibly the Andromeda Galaxy and the Comet Boethin will be on display.

— Staff report