DUI Crash Claims 3 Over Holiday Weekend

crashThe Fourth of July weekend, traditionally one of the deadliest of holiday weekends, was tragically ushered in with a DUI car accident that killed a Leesburg family on July 2 when a Wesley Chapel driver allegedly sent their pickup truck into the waters beneath the Howard Frankland Bridge.

Joshua Burbank, 25, was driving his 4-door 2014 Honda Civic eastbound on I-275 near milepost 33 at approximately 9:30 p.m. when he swerved from the center inside lane into the inside lane and hit the truck, causing it to lose control and overturn multiple times before flipping over the southern concrete barrier wall and into the water below, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

Burbank, says the FHP, was driving under the influence. He was arrested at the scene and faces three charges of DUI Manslaughter and another charge of DUI involving property damage., as well as careless driving.

Robert, Karen and Samuel Getter of Leesburg were inside the GMC truck, and perished.

The FHP says that the front left portion Burbank’s car clipped the rear right of the truck, causing it to go into a clockwise spin before tumbling towards the edge of bridge, and into two feet of water.

Robert Getter, 76, and his wife Karen, 73, sustained fatal injuries; their son Samuel, 52, sustained critical injuries and was transported to an area hospital where he died. All three were wearing their seatbelts.

The northbound lanes of the Howard Frankland Bridge was closed from 9:45 p.m. until 2 a.m. Saturday morning while the crash was investigated.

Burbank was released from the Pinellas County Jail on Saturday after posting bail.

 

 

Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel Picks Up Two Important Designations

The staff of the Baby Place at Florida Hospital is proud to have won a 2016 Women’s Choice Award as one of the top obstetrics hospitals in the U.S.
The staff of FHWC’s Hip & Knee Replacement Center is proud to have been designated as the country’s first Center of Excellence by an international health care accreditation organization.

Living in Wesley Chapel, we can consider ourselves fortunate to have Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel (FHWC) close by for our medical needs.

The 200,000-sq. ft., 83-bed facility, which is currently being expanded, continues to be recognized for being outstanding in various ways.

The hospital recently was named the country’s first Center of Excellence for its Hip & Knee Replacement Center.

This designation was awarded by DNV GL Healthcare USA, an international health care accreditation organization.

“This comprehensive, independent evaluation is recognition of the high-quality orthopaedic care provided by our physicians and staff and dedication to the best outcomes for our patients,” says Dr. Stephen Raterman, orthopaedic surgeon and medical director of FHWC’s Hip & Knee Replacement Center.

In addition, FHWC also has received the 2016 Women’s Choice Award as one of America’s best hospitals for obstetrics.

The Women’s Choice Award is an organization that seeks to give women a collective voice to choose brands, products and services with confidence, knowing that other women have tried and would highly recommend them.

The designation is based on a variety of criteria that consider patient satisfaction, patient recommendation rating, and what women say they want from a hospital.

FHWC’s Baby Place opened in 2012 with 11 private rooms for labor, delivery, recovery and postpartum care.

Each room features overnight space for family, spa-like amenities, such as Jacuzzi tub or walk-in shower, and 42” TV.

Wireless fetal monitoring and a state-of-the-art infant security system are other highlights of The Baby Place.

“Women choosing us as the hospital to welcome their babies into the world is the highest honor we can receive,” says Denyse Bales-Chubb, CEO and president of FHWC. “This award is another reflection of that honor, and we pledge to keep earning it every day.”

For more information about FHWC, visit FHWesleyChapel.org. And, don’t forget, FHWC also is the Studio Sponsor for WCNT-tv.