Crash Fatality Numbers Discussed At State Coalition’s Motorcycle Safety Meeting

On Oct. 30, at around 10 a.m., a tragic, fatal motorcycle crash occurred on I-75 in Wesley Chapel, resulting in the rider’s death: 

“Vehicle 1, a Kawasaki motorcycle, operated by a 17-year-old male from Land O’Lakes, was traveling southbound on I-75 in the outside lane. Vehicle 2, a tractor-trailer, driven by a 65-year-old Crystal River man, was traveling southbound on I-75 in the center lane,” the crash report from the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) said. “North of CR-54, the motorcyclist changed lanes and collided with the passenger side of the tractor-trailer. The motorcyclist overturned and was struck by the under-carriage of the tractor-trailer. The motorcyclist suffered fatal injuries at the scene of the crash.” 

Unfortunately for those who live in and near Wesley Chapel, especially those who regularly travel I-75 and I-275, the news of tragic and fatal crashes involving motorcycles are not uncommon, a concern highlighted at the most recent Florida Motorcycle Safety Coalition (FMSC)’s quarterly meeting, held Nov. 13-14 at the Hyatt Place Hotel Tampa-Wesley Chapel on the north side of S.R. 56. 

Dr. Chanyoung Lee (photo), the program director of motorcycle injury prevention and senior research associate at the Center for Urban Transportation Research (aka CUTR) in the College of Engineering at the University of South Florida, shared some of the data he has gathered from fatal motorcycle crashes that shows everything from the awge groups most likely to be involved in a fatal crash to the other factors (speeding, helmet use, intoxication, who was deemed at fault by law enforcement, etc.). 

Dr Lee’s fatal motorcycle crash findings were based on data gathered during the 36 months between April 2022 and March 2025. 

When it comes to particular age groups, Dr. Lee said, motorcycle riders between the ages of 26-30 accounted for the most significant number of fatal motorcycle deaths in Florida during that three-year period, at 237, followed closely by 21-25-year-olds at 236. Nearly half of the motorcycle fatalities in Florida involved riders younger than age 35, and around 85% of the fatal riders were below age 60. When comparing the data to the same three-year period from a decade prior (2012-14), fatality rates in some age groups have gotten much higher. In 2012-14, the number of fatalities for people ages 71-75 was 19, but Dr Lee’s recent data shows that number increased by more than 100%, to 41. 

Additionally, the types of motorcycles recovered from these fatal crashes varied significantly by age group. As you might expect, young motorcyclists, ages 20-30, tend to opt for high-speed, maneuverable bikes, like sports bikes, while older bikers (ages 40+) tend to ride touring motorcycles or cruisers. 

Dr. Lee’s data on the behavioral risk factors — intoxication, lack of helmet use and speeding (graphic below) — in fatal crashes shed light on the risky behavioral patterns certain age groups have. For improper helmet use, riders aged 16-25 have the lowest rate of non-helmet use fatalities, at around 20%. From there, the percentage steadily increases throughout adulthood and peaks with riders aged 61-65 at around 70%. Perhaps somewhat surprisingly, when it comes to impairment fatalities on motorcycles, riders aged 16-20 had the lowest percentage, at roughly 10%. The intoxication fatality rates increase with age and peaks for riders ages 46-50, at more than 40% of the motorcycle fatalities. 

Less surprising is that younger riders between the ages of 16-20 had the highest rate of speeding-related fatalities, at more than 30%. The percentage steadily decreases as the rider’s age increases. 

Fault analysis in these motorcycle accidents also revealed age-related patterns. Riders under age 30 were statistically more prone to being found at fault by law enforcement, with 50-62% of single- and multi-vehicle accidents credited to the motorcyclist. Riders between ages 31-40 have a higher probability of another vehicle being at fault in a crash, at between 44-45%. Data regarding the at-fault driver stabilizes among riders ages 41-65, with roughly 54-62% of fatal crashes being their own fault and 30-45% caused by another vehicle. 

“So, the interesting portion that you can compare is, if you’re getting a multi-vehicle crash of one age group versus another, it’s quite different,” Dr. Lee said. Younger guys, when they get involved in a crash with a car (or truck, etc.), they are more likely to be at fault.” 

“When you compare that with someone over age 55 involved in a crash with another driver, the [other vehicle] driver is more likely to be at fault.” 

Ultimately, Dr Lee’s findings indicate that while there are motorcycle safety concerns for all age groups on the road, young riders are still statistically far more likely to be involved in a fatal motorcycle crash than their older counterparts 

While Dr Lee did not mention what is being done to prevent these percentages from rising — as the more recent three-year period definitely showed an increase overall in motorcycle fatalities over ten years ago — it’s clear that addressing the high risk for young motorcyclists is the first step in reducing fatalities and improving overall traffic safety. 

The FMSC, per their mandate, will use this data to better target their efforts to improve motorcycle safety to reduce crashes, injuries and deaths. But of course, there is little anyone can do about distracted and/or intoxicated drivers, speeding and other risky behaviors by both motorcyclists and drivers of other vehicles.

Can Anything Be Done About Wesley Chapel’s Traffic Fatalities?

Trying To Get A Handle On Distracted Drivers, Speeding, Heavy Traffic, Motorcycles, E-Bikes & More 

A Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) car on the scene of an accident on I-75 that killed a 17-year-old motorcyclist on Oct. 30, (Photo source: Florida Highway Patrol)

 There’s no doubt that, in addition to car washes, storage facilities, chain (and especially, chicken) restaurants, one of the things Wesley Chapel residents complain about the most is traffic. In an area that is growing as quickly as Wesley Chapel, increased traffic, unfortunately, also means a significant increase in traffic accidents and, by extension, traffic fatalities, especially on highways. 

I personally still don’t think there’s as much traffic here as there was when I lived in (and near) New York City but that was, admittedly, nearly 40 years ago when the only “mobile” phones were those attached by a phone cord to your car — and not everybody actually had one of them. 

The Wesley Chapel area today seems to possess the “perfect storm” combination of everyone having mobile phones and lots of traffic that includes many new people who only recently moved into the area. These newcomers, usually from out of state, don’t yet know our roads and have limited experience with the exits off our interstate highways that get backed up, sometimes for miles, even when no accident has taken place in the area. 

People in the online community groups in our area often express their frustration and aggravation with the traffic, especially every time there is an accident with serious injuries and/or fatalities. 

And, it is because of that ever-increasing number of those serious accidents — especially on I-75 between the Bruce B. Downs Blvd. Exit #270 (New Tampa) and Overpass Rd. in Wesley Chapel — that I decided to look into the number of serious accidents in our area recently and what, if anything, can be done, to improve the situation. 

The other impetus for this story was that our writer Joel Provenzano is a member of the Florida Motorcycle Safety Coalition (FMSC), which just happened to be having its quarterly meeting at the Hyatt Place hotel at I-75 and S.R. 56 almost exactly two weeks after a 17-year-old motorcyclist from Land O’Lakes was killed in a crash on I-75. 

On pages 4-11 of this issue, we look at the serious crashes that have taken place since Mar. 29 of this year, as well as the data the FMSC received specifically about motorcycle crashes, plus the newest safety hazard on our local roads — e-bikes. 

I have never met Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) Sgt. and public affairs officer for FHP Troop C Steve Gaskins (photo), but I kind of feel like I know him. Sgt. Gaskins is the guy who sends us the press releases regarding major traffic accidents that have happened not only in New Tampa and Wesley Chapel, but all around Pasco, Hillsborough, Pinellas, Polk and Citrus counties. 

I don’t envy Sgt. Gaskins. His job is to report some of the most heinous occurrences in our distribution areas and he is very good at it. But, it has to be hard for him to see the carnage that he reports to the media every day and not be somewhat affected by it. 

I also have never spoken with Sgt. Gaskins, but I did exchange emails with him recently regarding the accidents that have taken place on our major roadways — I-75 between Overpass Rd. & Bruce B. Downs Blvd., I-275 between Bearss Ave. & S.R. 56, plus S.R.s 54 & 56 themselves. 

Here are some of my questions and the answers I received from him: 

1) Why are there no lights on I-275 between Bearss Ave. and S.R. 56? Lights on the interstate are typically installed near exit/ entrance ramps. 

2) How many accidents on these stretches of our two main interstate highways have taken place because of people trying to bypass traffic on the highway shoulders and/ or weaving in & out of traffic? Reckless drivers cause crashes; the specific number would be hard to establish as crash reports would indicate improper lane changes or passing only. 

3) How many local accidents involve motorcycles/electric bicycles (I know that the latter aren’t on interstates, but do ride on S.R.s 56, 54, Overpass Rd., Bruce B. Downs Blvd., etc.)? For these records, please email FHPRecords@flhsmv.gov. (Also, see our stories about motorcycles and e-bikes on pgs. 8-11.) 

4) What are the actual rules about e-bikes and golf carts on roadways? When do e-bikes become motorcycles and who is really allowed to drive them on roadways? These rules and regulations vary by jurisdiction. 

5) What can be done to help alleviate at least some of this issue? I would gladly have the Neighborhood News sponsor a public meeting to discuss traffic and highway safety & I would love it if FHP could have someone attend that meeting. The FHP routinely issues safe travel posts and the FDOT (Florida Dept. of Transportation) posts safe travel messages on their highway message boards. 

6) What can be done to increase funding in order to increase FHP and Pasco/Hillsborough County law enforcement presence in our communities? These are legislative and county funding concerns. 

I have no doubts that speeding, driving under the influence and reckless driving are all major contributing factors to crashes not only in our area, but across the country. I also am confident that the ever-rising trend of distracted driving — especially texting and looking at your mobile phone while driving — is on the rise as a cause of many major accidents. 

In fact, even though Sgt. Gaskins didn’t have specific stats for the areas he covers, or more specifically for New Tampa and Wesley Chapel, Florida Highway Safety & Motor Vehicles’ “Florida Crash Dashboard” shows that between Jan. 1 & Nov. 14 of this year, there have been 311,864 total crashes on all of Florida’s roadways, including 2,231 fatal crashes and 134,245 injury crashes. Of those were 78,418 hit & run crashes (with 16,610 hit & run injuries) and 7,557 crashes involving motorcycles, resulting in 469 motorcycle fatalities. 

For all of Pasco County over that same time period, there have been 5,866 crashes, including 68 with fatalities and 3,173 with injuries, as well as 1,107 hit & run crashes with one fatality and 385 injuries, plus 200 crashes involving motorcycles with 19 fatalities. 

But, here in our area, another factor clearly seems to be the traffic itself. When it’s at a standstill, whether because of rubbernecking an accident or just high volume during rush hours, people seem to be taking more risks. I can’t tell you how many times Jannah and I have seen people moving at high speed — 50-60 mph or more — on the shoulder of I-75 leading up to the S.R. 54 exit — when the two lanes of traffic heading to that exit aren’t moving at all. 

Since we all also have GPS on our phones and/or in our cars, I’m guessing that people who see stopped traffic a few miles ahead of them on GPS will speed up and take more risks to get off an exit early or bypass right-exiting traffic at one interstate exit to try to make up time by getting off at the next exit instead. 

If you look at the 19 major accidents Sgt. Gaskins reported to us on page 6 (just since Mar. 29 of this year, or in less than eight months), you’ll see that many of them include language like “darted out,” “was operating in a reckless manner” and “lost control.” 

I know we all are busy and have families or loved ones we need to get home to, but there have just been too many times that these accidents have been caused by reckless and/or distracted drivers. It also would be nice if more people would use their turn signals — especially when changing lanes — and would look to see if it’s actually clear before doing so. 

If we don’t all slow down and keep our eyes on the road, it’s clear that more of us will be listed in Sgt. Gaskins’ incident reports. 

Have a safe, healthy and joyous holiday season, Wesley Chapel. 

Recent Wesley Chapel & New Tampa Vehicle Crash Reports From Florida Highway Patrol 


Editor’s note – Not all of these crashes took place in Wesley Chapel or New Tampa. Some just involve people who live in our distribution areas. Please note that we’re not showing these reports to be insensitive, as we know that many of them involve the loved ones of people who read this publication. This listing is included to show just how many of these major accidents there have been in our area, just since March 29 of this year. Please also note that the photos on this page were provided to us by Florida Highway Patrol. — GN

Nov. 7 — A two-year-old male child from Dade City, reportedly walking northbound along the outside shoulder with his father, darted out into the path of and was struck by a Dodge Ram pickup, driven by a 20-year-old Dade City man. Airlifted to an area hospital, the child later expired from injuries suffered during the crash. The driver and an 18-year-old Wesley Chapel woman traveling as a passenger in the truck were not injured. 

Oct. 30 — A Kawasaki motorcycle, operated by a 17-year-old male from Land O Lakes, was traveling southbound on I-75 in the outside lane. A tractor-trailer, driven by a 65-year-old Crystal River man, was traveling southbound on I-75 in the center lane. North of CR-54, the motorcyclist changed lanes and collided with the passenger side of the tractor-trailer. The motorcyclist overturned and was struck by the under-carriage of the tractor-trailer. The motorcyclist suffered fatal injuries at the scene. 

Oct. 15 — Five vehicles were traveling southbound on I-75, south of SR-54. Vehicle 1 was slowing or stopped in the center lane without lights activated awaiting to change lanes. As Veh. 2 approached Veh. 1, the driver moved to the outside lane to avoid a crash, resulting in all five vehicles colliding (photo above), resulting in non-life-threatening injuries to all, with one being transported to an area hospital. 

Oct. 7 — Veh. 1, a BMW sedan, driven by an 18-year-old Wesley Chapel man, was traveling southbound on I-75 near the 269 Milepost in the inside lane. The driver was operating in a reckless manner and lost control of the vehicle which traveled into the outside center lane. The sedan traveled under the trailer towed by Veh. 2, an Amazon tractor-trailer, operated by a 49-year-old St. Cloud man which was also traveling southbound in the outside center lane. The impact caused the tractor-trailer to jackknife and travel to final rest in the center median with the sedan pinned under the trailer (photo right). No injuries were reported during the incident to either driver, or to two 18-year-old Wesley Chapel men traveling as passengers in Veh. 1. 

Sept. 30 —Veh. 1, a Nissan Rogue, driven by a 38-year-old Lakeland woman, was traveling at a very slow speed northbound on I-75 in the outside lane. Veh. 2, a Mitsubishi Mirage, driven by a 67-year-old St. Petersburg man, was traveling northbound on I-75 in the outside lane behind Veh. 1. Veh. 3, a tractor-trailer, driven by a 43-year-old Loganville, GA, man, was traveling northbound on I-75 in the inside center lane. Veh. 2 overtook and collided with Veh. 1 which traveled to the outside shoulder and collided with a barrier wall while Veh. 2 rotated & entered the path of Veh. 3. As a result, Veh. 3 collided with Veh. 2. Both Driver 1 & 2 suffered serious injuries and were transported to area hospitals where Driver 2 later expired from injuries suffered during the collisions. Driver 3 was not injured. 

Sept. 29 —Veh. 1, a moped, operated by a 55-year-old Zephyrhills man, was traveling eastbound on SR 54. A pedestrian, a 55-year-old Zephyrhills man, was walking eastbound ahead of Vehicle 1. East of Lamar Rd., the moped overtook and struck the pedestrian. Upon impact, the pedestrian fell to the ground, as the rider was ejected from the moped. Veh. 2, a Chevy Silverado, driven by an unknown female, was traveling eastbound on SR 54 and collided with the moped operator, who suffered fatal injuries at the scene of the crash. Following the crash, the female driver fled the scene. Veh. 2 is described as an older model black Chevrolet pickup truck, 2000 model year, driven by a white female approximately 30–40 years of age. Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to call *FHP (*347) or Crime Stoppers at **TIPS. 

Sept. 19 — Veh. 1, a Harley Davidson motorcycle, operated by a 34-year-old Bushnell man, was traveling southbound on I-275, north of Bearss Ave., near the 56 Milepost. Veh. 2, a Nissan Rogue, driven by a 40-year-old Tampa woman, was traveling southbound on I-275 ahead of Veh. 1. Veh. 1 overtook and collided with Veh. 2 while changing lanes. Upon impact, the motorcyclist traveled to final rest along the inside shoulder while the motorcycle traveled into the path of and was struck by Veh. 3, a Toyota RAV4, driven by a 62-year-old New Port Richey man, which was also traveling southbound on I-275. Driver 1 suffered fatal injuries at the scene of the crash. Drivers 2 & 3 suffered no injuries during the collisions. 

Sept. 6 — Veh. 1, a Dodge Charger, driven by a 25-year-old Tampa man, was traveling southbound on I-75 at approximately 100 MPH with bald tires. Near the 268 Milepost, the driver lost control on a wet roadway, rotated & departed the highway. The vehicle traveled to the outside shoulder, struck an embankment, became airborne, and struck several trees before coming to final rest. Also traveling in the vehicle was a 24-year-old Riverview man and 25-year-old Land O Lakes man. All three occupants suffered serious injuries and were transported to area hospitals for medical care. 

Aug. 6 — Veh. 1, a Honda Civic, driven by a 40-year-old Sanford man, was traveling westbound on SR 56, east of Shops Lane, a 34-year-old Sanford man who had been involved in a minor crash just prior to this incident walked into the path of and was struck by Veh. 1. Transported to an area hospital, the pedestrian later expired from injuries suffered during the crash. Driver 1 suffered no injuries. 

July 2 — Veh. 1, a Ford Explorer, driven by a 37-year-old Wesley Chapel woman, was traveling westbound on SR 52. Veh. 2, an International cargo truck, driven by a 51-year-old Orlando man, was traveling eastbound on SR 52. At the 28000 block of SR 52, Veh. 1 completed a U-Turn into the path of and was struck by Veh. 2. Post-impact, both vehicles traveled to final rest along the outside shoulder of the highway. Transported to an area hospital, Driver 1 later expired from injuries suffered during the crash. Driver 2 suffered minor injuries and was also transported to an area hospital. 

July 1 —Veh. 1, a motorcycle operated by a 40-year-old Webster man, was traveling northbound on I-75 and collided with a tractor-trailer near the 281 Milepost. The motorcyclist suffered fatal injuries at the scene of the crash. All northbound lanes of I-75 were closed due to the accident. 

May 20 —Veh. 1, an Isuzu truck, driven by a 19-year-old Parrish man, was traveling southbound on I-75. North of Bruce B. Downs Blvd., the driver swerved to avoid an unknown object in the roadway. The driver lost control, causing the vehicle to rotate, depart the roadway and collide with the outside barrier wall. The driver was transported to an area hospital with minor injuries. 

May 18 — Veh. 1, a Kia Soul, driven by a 46-year-old New Port Richey man, was traveling northbound on I-75. South of Overpass Rd., the driver lost control while cutting in and out of traffic and traveled onto the outside shoulder of the highway. Once on the shoulder, the vehicle struck a light pole and caught fire. The driver suffered fatal injuries at the scene of the crash. 

May 16 — Veh. 1, a Tesla Model S, was traveling southbound on I-75 along with several other vehicles. Near the 277 Milepost, Veh. 1 departed its travel lane and collided with Veh. 2, a Ford F150. Veh. 1 redirected and collided with Veh. 3, a Toyota Corolla. Veh. 3 was then also redirected and collided with Veh. 4, a Peterbilt truck. Finally, Veh. 1, which had continued southbound following the first two collisions, struck Veh. 5, a Volvo tractor-trailer. Transported to an area hospital, Driver 1 later expired from injuries suffered during the collisions. All other drivers suffered no injuries. Driver 1: Male, 69, Longboat Key; Driver 2: Female, 43, Riverview; Passenger in Veh. 2: Male, 11, Riverview; Driver 3: Male, 70, Wesley Chapel; Passenger in Veh. 3: Female, 74, Wesley Chapel; Driver 4: Male, 59, St. Petersburg; Driver 5: Male, 31, Tampa 

May 1 —Veh. 1, a Kawasaki motorcycle, operated by a 23-year-old Wesley Chapel man, was traveling northbound on Wesley Chapel Blvd. at a high rate of speed. Near Progress Pkwy., the rider lost control, departed the roadway, struck a street sign and finally, a light pole. The rider suffered fatal injuries at the scene of the crash. 

Apr. 13 — Veh. 1, a Toyota Camry, driven by a 30-year-old Tampa man, was traveling southbound on I-75. South of SR 52, the driver overtook another vehicle and took evasive action to avoid a collision. The driver lost control of the vehicle, which rotated to the highway shoulder and struck a tree. Upon impact, a 28-year-old Tampa woman traveling as a passenger in the vehicle suffered fatal injuries. 

Apr. 8 — Veh. 2, a tractor-trailer, driven by a 25-year-old Gainesville man, was traveling northbound on I-75. North of Bruce B. Downs Blvd., the tractor-trailer became disabled and came to a stop along the outside shoulder of the highway. Veh. 3, a Hyundai Sonata, driven by a 27-year-old Ocala man and brother of the tractor-trailer driver, stopped just ahead of Veh. 2 to render assistance. Veh. 1, an F-350 towing a cattle trailer, driven by a 23-year-old Campbellsville, KY, man, was traveling northbound on I-75 and, as the vehicle overtook Vehs. 2 and 3, the driver drifted onto the highway shoulder. Veh. 1 collided first with the driver’s side of Veh. 2, continued forward and collided with Driver 3, who had exited his vehicle to render assistance. Veh. 1 continued still further before finally colliding with Veh. 3. Driver 3 suffered fatal injuries at the scene of the crash. Post-impact, Driver 1 fled the scene of the crash and traveled to the Gate gas station on SR 56 at Cypress Ridge Blvd. An FHP Trooper soon located the driver at the gas station, where he was changing a tire. The driver, Noah Alexander Riley, was arrested for leaving the scene of a crash involving a death and deliver ed to the Hillsborough County Jail. 

Apr. 4 — Veh. 1, a Toyota Tacoma, driven by a 42-year-old Dade City man, was traveling northbound on the I-275 entrance ramp leading to I-75, when the driver lost control for unknown reason. The vehicle crossed the gore, overturned and came to rest in the northbound I-75 travel lanes. The unrestrained driver was ejected from the vehicle, suffered serious injury, & was transported to an area hospital and later expired as a result of his injuries. 

Mar. 29 — Veh. 1, a dump truck loaded with rock, driven by a 51-year-old Riverview man, was traveling southbound on I-75. North of SR 56, the driver lost control of the vehicle, which overturned and spilled its load upon the highway. The crash closed the southbound lanes of I-75 with traffic diverted at SR 54. The driver suffered non-life-threatening injuries and was transported to an area hospital. 

Note from FHP Sgt. & Public Affairs Officer Steven Gaskins re: Distracted Driving Month: 

The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV), its division of the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) and its public safety partners remind drivers to stay distraction-free while behind the wheel. [Although ]April is National Distracted Driving Awareness Month, both drivers and passengers alike have a duty to refrain from engaging in or fostering distraction [all year around]. 

The act of driving requires keen concentration, as drivers must constantly be in tune with factors such as their speed, surroundings, other drivers, roadway conditions and more. Throw distractions into the mix — such as texting or talking on the phone — and this act becomes harder to do safely. 

Preliminary data for 2024 shows that in Florida, nearly 300 people died and more than 2,200 people suffered serious bodily injuries due to a distracted driver. A distraction is anything that takes your hands off the wheel, your eyes off the road, or your mind off the act of driving. While you may not think you are a distracted driver because you do not engage in more well-known distractions, such as texting, you may be engaging in other distractions that put you, your passengers and others on the roadway at risk. This might include, but is not limited to, listening to loud music, eating, engaging with passengers or adjusting your vehicle’s entertainment or navigation system. 

BayCare Wesley Chapel Hospital Hosts Pet Blessing & Coffee Social Events

Photos by Charmaine George

Our friends at BayCare Wesley Chapel (WC) Hospital (4501 Bruce B. Downs Blvd.) continue to engage the community so that as many people as possible can get to know the nearly three-year-old, 86-bed hospital. 

On Oct. 6, BayCare WC Chaplain Reid Isenhart (at left in top photo) hosted a Pet Blessing event, in honor of the Feast Day for the Catholic Patron Saint of the animals, St. Francis of Assisi. “We always strive to set high standards for compassionate care for people, Chaplin Reid said, “but we also like to recognize the gift of our animals, including the therapy animals who come to the hospital.” 

With nearly two dozen animals in attendance — including two young piglets, a chicken and a bunny brought by “Connected City” resident Michael Pultorak (left) — Chaplain Reid said, “Research shows that pet owners consider their pets to be full family members. Today, we also have animals who assist us not just emotionally, but also with sight and sound and to recognize seizures and even cancer, so we bless them all.” 

Then on Oct. 15, BayCare WC hosted a North Tampa Bay Chamber Coffee Social (photo, right), where the hospital’s director of operations Bill Sedey gave attendees more info about the hospital: “This hospital features a 20-bed emergency room, a 12-bed intensive care unit, helipad for transporting critical patients, all private rooms and a great partnership with the under-construction YMCA next door.” Other hospital staffers also made presentations about BayCare WC’s imaging center, staffing and more. 

For more info, visit BayCare.org. For upcoming Chamber events, visit NorthTampaBayChamber.com.events. — GN

Wiregrass Ranch Updates On Publix, New Apartments, Medical Offices & Restaurants?

By Gary Nager & Joel Provenzano 

Rendering of the resort-style pool at the under-construction Arcadia at Wiregrass Ranch apartments. (Rendering from ThirdLakeDevelopment.com) 

It seems that there’s never a shortage of news coming out of Wiregrass Ranch these days, so we always try to check in with developer JD Porter and his development right hand man, Scott Sheridan, the chief operating officer of Locust Branch, LLC, to get the latest news. 

After all, the 5,000-acre Wiregrass Ranch already has The Shops at Wiregrass mall, AdventHealth Wesley Chapel Hospital, the Porter Campus of Pasco Hernando State College, more than 3,000 single-family homes (and townhomes) and 1,400 rental apartment units. 

Wiregrass Ranch also is home to the Wiregrass Ranch Sports Campus, The Beach House assisted living community, Florida Cancer Specialists (FCS), Moffitt Cancer Center and North Tampa Behavioral Health, and coming soon are the Florida Medical Clinic Orlando Health Wiregrass Ranch Hospital, two Orlando Health-owned medical office buildings totalling 150,000 sq. ft., a PAM Health Rehabilitation Hospital and two additional medical office buildings that Wiregrass Ranch will develop in partnership with Flagship Healthcare Properties, and what Porter says will one day be Wesley Chapel’s true downtown — The Legacy at Wiregrass Ranch. 

Publix could soon begin building its new location east of Wiregrass Ranch Blvd. earlier this year. Map locations: 1-Chili’s, 2-Chase Bank, 3-Bank of Amer., 4-Advance Auto Parts, 5-Sweet Nail Spa, Mathnasium, Pizza Hut & Starbucks (Map from Publix plans submitted to Pasco County, modified by NN). 

One of the big things people keep asking me (and online) is about the new Publix planned for the east side of Wiregrass Ranch Blvd., just north and east of Walmart (see map above left) on a 9.5-acre site appraised at $3.97 million. 

Of that 48,848-sq.-ft. Publix (with a 2,100-sq.-ft. liquor store), which is being built in front of the newest apartment community — Arcadia at Wiregrass Ranch — the main thing most people want to know is whether or not the opening of that new Publix will cause the existing store in the Hollybrook Plaza (less than a half-mile away) to close. Neither Sheridan nor Porter would address that question directly, but Sheridan says, “Final permitting [of the new Publix] is under way now, and I expect them to break ground by early next year. We have no direct knowledge of [Publix’s] intent to close the old store when they build the new one.” The site plan for the new Publix shows its main entrance lining up directly opposite the northern entrance to Walmart. 

Although most people appear to agree that it seems a little crazy to have two Publixes located so close to each other, we have heard some online chatter that says the Hollybrook Publix will definitely close, while others say that it definitely won’t close. Without confirmation either way from Publix or the Wiregrass Ranch team, it seems ludicrous to me to speculate either way. 

But, speaking of Publix, Porter did mention the possibility of another link in the Lakeland-based supermarket chain coming to the area near the new FCS building on S.R. 56, but Sheridan cautioned that although he had seen a post on Facebook that a preapplication meeting had been scheduled, “there has been nothing from us directly on this.” 

Also important to note is that if another Publix is coming to S.R. 56 in Wiregrass Ranch, that possible location is not the Publix planned for the front of the Two Rivers development five miles or so further to the east on 56. 

In the meantime, the Arcadia at Wiregrass Ranch apartments have not yet gone vertical, but the 15-acre parcel (valued at $7.04 million) has been cleared to build the 320-unit luxury rental community and its resort-style pool, EV charging stations and more, which will be the seventh Arcadia project (and the third in Florida) for Tampa-based Third Lake Development. 

As for the planned medical offices near the Orlando Health hospital, Sheridan says that the first 46,000-sq.-ft. Wiregrass Ranch Medical Pavilion (rendering above), in partnership with Flagship Healthcare Properties, is getting ready to break ground before the end of this year. 

“The second phase will move forward once the initial building is completed and fully leased,” Sheridan says. 

As for the two Florida Medical Clinic/ Orlando Health medical office buildings (MOBs), Sheridan says, “The hospital is expected to open by April of 2026. We expect the MOBs would be under construction soon but can’t say for sure. They are just now completing all of the site work for both of those.” 

Sheridan also said that Wiregrass Ranch is, “coordinating with Mast Capital on their requirement to build the Bypass Loop road within Wiregrass Ranch from S.R. 54 to Wiregrass Ranch Blvd.” as part of Mast’s redevelopment of Saddlebrook Resort (see pg. 44). “But we are not engaged or aware of their developments within the resort.” 

New Restaurants? Although the rumor mill has said that The Tilted Kilt, a Winghouse/ Hooters-style sports pub could be the still-unnamed restaurant planned for next to Cooper’s Hawk, Porter told me that although they have had discussions with The Tilted Kilt, it definitely will not be the restaurant built next to Cooper’s Hawk. 

Meanwhile, Sheridan says, “We are working on several upscale restaurants along the S.R. 56 corridor including next to Cooper’s Hawk, which, we are told, is consistently the #1 or #2 restaurant in that chain.” 

But of course, perhaps the most anticipated development in Wiregrass Ranch is The Legacy, which Porter keeps saying will be the only “true” downtown development in Wesley Chapel, and which will tie together everything already built and still planned for the Porter family’s sprawling cattle ranch. So, is there any Legacy news? 

“We are exploring that now with potential partners but have not committed any timing yet,” Sheridan says. 

To be continued.

Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital Provides Updates At Chamber Event!

(L.-r.) Justin Olsen & Dr. Joseph Perno of Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital, Teresa Campbell of HKS Architects & Bryan Durkin of Robins & Morton, with NTBC president & CEO Hope Kennedy, discuss the process of building Wesley Chapel’s pediatric hospital at the NW corner of Overpass Rd. & McKendree Rd.

The North Tampa Bay Chamber’s quarterly Economic Development Briefing on Sept. 24 brought four of the principals involved in the design, construction and staffing of the Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital of Wesley Chapel, which is being built just off the Overpass Rd. exit of I-75. The event was held at Pasco Hernando State College’s Porter Campus at Wiregrass Ranch. 

NTBC president and CEO Hope Kennedy led the panel discussion that included Justin Olsen, the chief operating officer and Dr. Joseph Perno, the VP of Medical Affairs of Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital, as well as HKS Architects partner Teresa Campbell, and Bryan Durkin, the operations manager from Robins & Morton, which is building the 230,000-sq.- ft., 56-bed hospital at the northwest corner of Overpass Rd. and McKendree Rd. 

Wesley Chapel’s first and only pediatric hospital is expected to be completed in late 2027, but this was the first real opportunity for the local business community to get an update on the progress of the hospital since the groundbreaking ceremony for it back in April of this year. 

“The overall land purchase was about 112 total acres, and the hospital will be on about 30 acres, which is actually the same size as our St. Petersburg campus,” Olsen said. “The facility itself will have a full-service pediatric ED (Emergency Department) and will offer perioperative and surgical services and also will have our first inpatient rehab program for physical rehab. I will tell you that in St. Pete, we have a need for that service, so this project is going to become a center of excellence for us, to be able to provide rehab following traumatic injury. It’ll have med-surg beds, or general admission beds, and it’ll also be ready for a pediatric intensive care unit. We may not launch with that, but the facility will be designed so that, if we need to turn that on right away, we can. Lastly, it will have a really extensive outpatient footprint, with approximately 30,000 sq. ft. for kids coming in for ambulatory visits. And, we’ve already started recruiting a host of subspecialists to join the staff and live in Wesley Chapel to provide that care.” 

Dr. Perno added, “It’s more than just a building. It’s moving our culture and our attitude about how we care for children, and replicating that from what we do in St. Pete to provide that same high-quality care. I’m really excited about finding the physicians that want to be part of this community and provide that care to our local pediatric patients.” 

He added, “I’m probably not telling anybody in this room something they don’t already know, but this is a growing area. There’s a lot of young people here and there’s a dearth of pediatric care in this area. I’ve seen a lot of patients from this area coming to the emergency department in St. Pete and I know they’re commuting all the way down there to see our caregivers. And, I knew that we could bring the care we deliver in St. Pete closer to home for our patients in Pasco County, so we feel we’re fulfilling a big need for the community and really helping children, which is what we’re all about.” 

Campbell said, “We love designing pediatric facilities. Just because a patient is having a stressful health situation doesn’t mean they shouldn’t be in an environment that’s elevating and inspiring and playful. We also think about the patient’s family, and we need to be really thoughtful about the design We work with the Patient Family Advisory Council, to really ask them, ‘What do they need? What do they want? What do they like? What do they dislike?’ We work with real patients with real parents, who provide feedback and input that really helped influence the design aspect of this project.” 

As for the construction process, Durkin said, “As important as the doctors and nurses are to a hospital, subconratctors and trade partners are the folks who get the job done on the construction side. We’re getting our door knocked on consistently by high-quality contractors who want to work in a health care facility and understand the unique challenges of building health care and hospitals.” 

He added, “And, what’s unique about this arrangement is that Johns Hopkins hired the construction manager at the same time as they hired the architect design team, so there was a collaboration right from the get-go of budget, design and purpose. I’m happy to continue to extend our invitation out to additional trade partners throughout the area, but our outreach started almost two years ago, when we were awarded the project . We’ll have 400-500 people on the site on any given day and 1,200-1,300 different folks come in throughout the course of the overall project. It’s important that we engage folks in Pasco County, specifically — it’s one of our contractual requirements.” 

And, speaking of that workforce, Olsen said, “Yes, we’re bringing 500 jobs to the community, which is good news, but it’s also anxiety-provoking. We all know health care team members are in short supply, so making sure we can find people is going to be a challenge. We will hire a myriad of different types of roles, from administrators through nursing, and all those areas that go into a hospital and make it work. So we’re gonna have a lot of hiring to do here, and it is gonna be certainly a challenge as we look at some of our in-demand specialty areas.” 

He added, “I didn’t appreciate how many of our current team members actually drive to St. Pete from this community. So, a lot of them have already started sending emails almost every week. ‘When do I get to apply for it?’ I love that people who are currently part of that culture and our team are going to join the facility here, and they will help make it the exact same in terms of always putting the kid first. It is going to be a big lift, to bring 500 new, really well-paying jobs to this community.” 

Dr. Perno also noted that, “We’re looking for physicians who want to care for kids and be embedded in this community. And I’m already hearing interest on that. And, you know, we, already have people asking, ‘When is it opening? When can I start working there?’ I’m like, well, we’ve just got dirt right now, but we’re working on it.” 

He added, “We have a clinic in this area now that’s bursting at the seams (on Allegra Way, off Wesley Chapel Blvd.) with physicians and practitioners working there, seeing patients. So, we’re looking at more opportunities up in this area and the physicians are fighting to go there and be part of it.” 

Campbell also talked about how the building itself is being designed to be as hurricane-proof as possible, with multiple backup systems for power and water, high-wind-rated windows and more. And, Durkin talked about the challenges of dealing with two more hurricane seasons while the hospital is being constructed. 

Olsen noted that this $300-million project, “is not Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital of St. Pete coming to Wesley Chapel. We are building Wesley Chapel’s children’s hospital. We will provide the departments and services this community asks for. This is a partnership. We’ve already been accepted amazingly by this community and will do what the community asks to improve kids’ health.”