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.
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.
Attorneys RaeAnn Compton & Todd Smith of Compton & Smith, P.A., handle a wide variety of legal cases from their office in the New Tampa Professional Park off BBD Blvd. in Pebble Creek. (Photos by Charmaine George)
At first glance, Compton & Smith, P.A. may appear to be just a small, local law firm tucked in the New Tampa Professional Park (on Regents Park Dr., off Bruce B. Downs Blvd.,) in Pebble Creek. But, for the clients who have leaned on them during their most trying times — and for the community they serve — the firm is so much more. It’s a family, a lifeline and a place where compassion meets competence.
Founded by attorneys RaeAnn Compton and Todd Smith, the firm of Compton & Smith has become a pillar of the New Tampa and Wesley Chapel legal community over the past eight years. What started as a professional rivalry between two strong-willed legal minds turned into a lasting partnership — built not only on mutual respect but on shared values, complementary skills and a deep commitment to their clients.
“We used to face off in court all the time,” Todd recalls with a smile. “Eventually, we got tired of roughing each other up and decided to sit down for lunch. That’s when we realized how well we’d work together.”
Both attorneys bring decades of experience to the table — along with deep roots in the local area. RaeAnn, who grew up in Dade City, earned her B.S. degree in political science from St. Leo University and her Juris Doctor (J.D., or Law) degree from Stetson University College of Law in DeLand. She passed the Florida Bar in 2000. After three years as an assistant state attorney, RaeAnn opened her private practice in Pebble Creek, where she’s been ever since.
Todd’s path started in Jacksonville, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts (B.A) degree in History from the University of North Florida and his J.D. degree from the Florida Coastal School of Law, also in Jacksonville. He passed the Bar in 2001. Like RaeAnn, he began his career as an assistant state attorney before branching into private practice and, eventually, to partnering with RaeAnn.
While Compton & Smith, P.A. offers legal services in a few key areas, RaeAnn says the largest portion of the firm’s caseload is focused on family law — guiding people through deeply personal challenges such as divorce, custody battles and child support disputes. These clients, who come to them during some of the most emotional times in their lives, are met with honesty, compassion and strategic legal insight.
Still, the partners’ expertise extends beyond just family law. They also handle select cases in criminal defense and personal injury, offering the same level of dedication and professionalism.
Practice Areas:
• Family Law: Divorce, Custody, Visitation, Child Support, Modifications, Paternity
• Criminal Law: Misdemeanors, Felonies & DUIs
• Personal Injury: Auto Accidents
RaeAnn and Todd’s commitment to serving the community with integrity and personal attention has earned them a loyal following and a strong reputation, not only among clients, but also among their peers.
Their personal ties to the community make their work all the more meaningful.
This isn’t just where we work,” RaeAnn says. “It’s where we live, where we raised our families and where we’re deeply invested.”
RaeAnn has lived in Wesley Chapel since 2007 with her husband Jeff and their two children, Jessica and Hunter.
Todd, who lives in Dade City with his wife Lisa, also emphasizes their local connection.
“We’ve both lived in the area for years,” he says. “RaeAnn was from Dade City and is now in Wesley Chapel and I was from Wesley Chapel and am now in Dade City. We have deep roots in the area and care about what happens to the families around us — because our families are among them.”
One of the firm’s greatest strengths is its team-oriented culture. While some firms operate with strict individual caseloads, Compton & Smith handles things differently.
“Todd and I work on almost every case together,” RaeAnn explains. “Clients might meet with one of us at first, but behind the scenes, we’re both looking at everything. We challenge each other, play devil’s advocate and walk into court with multiple perspectives.”
This collaborative model means clients benefit from the combined expertise of both attorneys — and the steady support of a dedicated team, which includes RaeAnn’s daughter and paralegal Jessica Compton, who plays an essential role in the firm’s success. “Jessica is really the backbone of our office,” says RaeAnn proudly. “She’s been with us for 15 years, and our clients adore her. She’ll take a call at 7 a.m. or answer an email on a Sunday if that’s what someone needs.”
Todd agrees: “Jessica has this incredible ability to ease a client’s anxiety. She’s savvy, compassionate and goes above and beyond every single day. She’s not just our paralegal — she’s our anchor.”
Although all areas of law require knowledge and expertise, when it comes to family law, the dynamic is very different.
“In family law, “ Todd says, “it’s not just about winning. It’s about helping people get to a better place. It’s a challenging and emotional area, one that requires both legal knowledge and emotional intelligence. It also requires thinking outside the box.”
That thoughtful approach was evident in a recent case where a contentious custody hearing was scheduled to proceed.
“We were able to talk with both sides, come to an agreement, and cancel the hearing,” says RaeAnn. “It avoided what could have been an emotionally draining day for everyone involved — especially the child.”
RaeAnn is known as a patient negotiator, someone who seeks common ground without compromising strength. “She has a way of finding solutions people can actually live with,” Todd says.
It’s a philosophy grounded in the firm’s core values: empathy, diligence and transparency.
“We take this work personally,” RaeAnn says. “It’s not nine to five for us. We do whatever it takes to be there for our clients.”
Jenny, a current Compton & Smith client, says, “One of the things I love about them is that they don’t need to be micromanaged. They are very good at taking care of things behind the scenes. In a terrible time of life, they have been the most supportive, still telling me how it is even when its not pretty. They treat you and take care of you like family.”
Compton & Smith also has embraced technology to better serve their clients. For example, since the pandemic, the use of Zoom for hearings and mediations has become a game-changer.
“Zoom has made things so much more efficient,” says Todd. “Before, you might spend half the day just traveling for one hearing. Now, we can do so much more in less time — and save our clients money in the process.”
Both attorneys continue to stay on top of changing laws, particularly in family law. “It’s constantly evolving, so we make sure to take continuing education courses every year,” says RaeAnn. “We owe it to our clients to stay informed.”
Beyond the courtroom, the firm supports a variety of community causes — from local children’s sports teams to domestic violence shelters and animal charities. “If someone’s raising money for a good cause, we try to be there,” RaeAnn says. “I’m a sucker for animals,” she adds with a laugh. “And we both have a soft spot for anything that helps kids.”
While some firms focus on scaling and expanding, Compton & Smith values consistency over growth. “If it’s not broken, don’t fix it,” RaeAnn says simply. Todd agrees. “We’ve thought about adding associates, but our biggest concern is whether someone would treat the cases with the same care we do. Both of our names are on the door, and that means everything.”
With most of their clients coming from word-of-mouth referrals — and even a few former opposing parties sending others their way — it’s clear that their reputation speaks for itself.
“We’re not here to churn through cases,” says Todd. “We’re here to help people. Sometimes that means finding the best legal argument, and sometimes it means just listening and being there.”
As RaeAnn puts it, “It’s never too late to hire a lawyer. No matter your situation, we’ll give you an honest assessment and help you stop the bleeding. That’s what we’re here for.”
Compton & Smith, P.A., is located at 8905 Regents Park Dr., Suite 210. To schedule a free consultation, call (813) 994-2026 or visit ComptonAndSmith.com.
If you’ve been reading this publication for any period of time and you still haven’t at least tried owner/Chef Erik Ravenna’s Johnny C’s Italian Eatery…well, let’s just say that I’m a little surprised. Not only does Erik create delicious Italian food — from New York-style pizzas to the largest variety of fresh seafood dishes (like the crispy calamari on this page to the Frutti di Mare, which means “fruits of the sea”) pasta and “comfort food” dishes like Momma’s Lasagna and spaghettini & meatballs — he also is one of the nicest, hardest-working restaurateurs in our area who also donates incredible amounts of food to local causes he believes in, such as special needs children.
Johnny C’s was actually named for Erik’s former partner Pat Ciaccio’s father Johnny, but he never changed the name, and he also bought out the family of his other partner — the late former Saddlebrook Resort owner Tom Dempsey. Both Erik and Pat previously worked at Saddlebrook.
Erik, who grew up in New Jersey, says the atmosphere at Johnny C’s is very much like having dinner at the home of a large Italian family, with its open kitchen and a large, dais-like table in the center of the restaurant, with a number of smaller tables around that table.
“This might be a little noisier dining room than you’re used to,” Erik says, “but it definitely feels like home to me.”
So, What About The Food?
Jannah, photographer Charmaine George and I have eaten at Johnny C’s at least a dozen times — not including takeout and catering orders — since it first opened a little more than two years ago, and we always have chosen either our own favorite dishes and/or anything new on the menu.
This time, however, we asked Erik to make us either his favorite dishes or the dishes that have proven to be the most popular at Johnny C’s.
And, what a feast he provided! We started with his ever-popular “Johnny’s Own Bruschetta” (above right photo; it just happens to also be Jannah’s favorite appetizer) that combines fresh, diced tomatoes, garlic and balsamic reduction on garlic crostini, served on a bed of tasty greens that also are amazing with the balsamic reduction.
We also were served a zesty Antipasto Salad — spring mix, with tomatoes, black olives, banana peppers and spirals of ham, capicola, salami and provolone cheese and a house-made vinaigrette — and the aforementioned Calamari Fritti (tossed with banana pepper rings and garlic butter and served with house marinara). Thankfully, I’ve never had my shellfish reaction to calamari because I do love it and Erik’s is excellent!
We’ve previously also gobbled down Erik’s Italian meatballs, served with fresh Buffalo mozzarella and finished with asiago and basil, and his incredible hand-breaded fried mozzarella. And, while we’re on the subject of his fresh mozzarella, Erik’s Caprese Salad is another favorite of mine, with fresh yellow and red tomatoes stacked high with slices of mozzarella and finished with both balsamic glaze and extra virgin olive oil.
But, speaking of my accursed shellfish allergy, Erik also wanted us to sample and take pictures of his Frutti di Mare (top left photo) — and Charmaine said it was probably her favorite dish of the evening. It combined nice-sized shrimp, mussels, clams and calamari in a spicy “Fra Diavlo” (which means “Among the Devil,” because of its heat) sauce and served over linguini with kalamata olives and a side, house-made garlic knot. (Note-all of the pasta dishes are served with garlic knot; they’re also available as an appetizer on the menu).
Other seafood pastas on the menu include shrimp scampi, parmigiana, marinara and Fra Diavlo and my favorite, Erik’s linguini vongolé (with fresh clams, marinara or white wine with garlic butter basil).
Thankfully, he also decided to serve us his Momma’s Lasagna (top photo), which he says is “Just how you remembered,” but only if you had an Italian momma or nonna (grandmother). The lasagna has more meat and sauce than ricotta cheese and even though it’s not “authentic Italy Italian” because it has ricotta instead of bechamel sauce, Jannah, Charmaine and I all agreed that it was hearty and oh so delicious.
We also loved his Linguini Alfredo with broccoli and chicken (left photo), which isn’t actually on the menu, so you’ll have to ask for it, but it definitely is a lighter Alfredo sauce than at most places.
Other pasta dishes at Johnny C’s include Chicken Marsala (with mushrooms & Marsala wine brown sauce), Chicken Piccata (with white wine, lemon, basil & capers), Baked Penne (with house Bolognese sauce & mozzarella), Ravioli Pomodoro (cheese ravioli with vine ripened tomato sauce), Penne Vodka (with vodka cream sauce, basil & vine ripened tomato sauce), the previously mentioned Spaghettini & Meatballs and Eggplant or Chicken Parmigiana. Some of these pasta dishes are now available with gluten-free pasta and several of the chicken dishes have a Halal option. Be sure to ask Erik about all of his Halal offerings, also including beef pepperoni and turkey bacon.
You Say You Want Pizza? You Got It!
Although we didn’t actually have any of Erik’s pizzas on this most recent visit, we’ve enjoyed plenty of those options over the years.
Although you can custom-design your own pizza, his varieties named for the five boroughs of New York City and the area known as “SoHo” are all among Johnny C’s most popular New York-style pies. The Brooklyn is a chicken, bacon, ranch pizza with Alfredo sauce and ricotta. The Bronx is your “Meat Lovers” option, with pepperoni, Italian sausage, ham and meatballs. The Manhattan has Hawaiian pineapple and ham, but I personally don’t think he should have named this variety after any borough of NYC. The Queens is your Margherita with light tomato sauce, fresh tomatoes, Buffalo mozzarella, fresh basil and garlic. The Staten Island is another white pizza, with Alfredo sauce, mozz, ricotta, mushrooms and a pesto drizzle. And the Soho is his veggie variety, with marinara, mushrooms, peppers, onion, spinach, olives and broccoli.
Also super-popular (and delish!) is the “Yea Babe!,” that Erik calls his “Grandpa Bill’s Warm Welcome to You!.” It features vodka sauce, Italian sausage and mozzarella. And yes, Erik still is happy to add Mike’s hot honey to your favorite pizza. “It’s a game-changing extra kick,” he says.
All of these pizzas, as well as the chicken & broccoli pizza in the right photo above, are available with a gluten-free cauliflower crust — honestly one of the best cauliflower crust pizzas I’ve had in our area. I usually prefer extra gluten myself, but for those who need to be gluten-free and those who enjoy a crisp, different-tasting crust, you should definitely try a cauliflower crust pizza at Johnny C’s!
I also sometimes enjoy Johnny C’s “grinders” (I call them subs or hero sandwiches), but he offers meatball, eggplant, chicken or sausage parmesan hot grinders and a turkey BLT and Johnny C’s Italian grinder with capicola, salami, ham, provolone, lettuce, tomato, onion, banana peppers and roasted peppers with Italian dressing.
Johnny C’s also offers a kids menu with spaghettini & meatballs, a slice of pizza (with fries) and cheese ravioli with choice of marinara or Alfredo sauce, each for only $7.95!
Think you can still handle dessert? There’s a tartufo gelato “bomb” with hot fudge & whipped cream, NY-style cheesecake, tiramisu, chocolate chip or pistachio cannolis and two gluten-free options — a Reese’s pie and a chocolate torte.
Cooking Classes, Catering & More!
Also near and dear to Erik’s heart are his “Cooking Classes for Kids” (right photo). He has hosted these classes for special needs kids from Cypress Creek High and other local schools but also offers them as a unique birthday or other party opportunity to anyone whose kid wants to learn how to toss (and catch) pizza dough and make their own pizzas. I wish this was available when my two adult sons were still in school. Jannah and I want to learn how to make pizza like Erik, too!
And, with the holiday season now just around the corner, you also can’t go wrong with catering from Johnny C’s — for parties large and small and for anything from a single tray of Momma’s Lasagna or Baked Penne to go with your Thanksgiving dinner to a fully catered meal, give Erik a call at the restaurant and talk to him about his many different menu options — from appetizers, pastas and pizzas, to salads, pretty much any type of sandwiches and more — you really should give him an opportunity to do at least some of the holiday cooking for you!
During our most recent visit, Erik told me that he had an order the next day for a variety of breakfast pizzas, “So, even though I hadn’t ever even tried to make a breakfast pizza, I said, ‘Why not?’ and came up with five different options — fried egg, sausage & cheese; Canadian bacon, hash brown & cheese; biscuit cinnamon roll, a biscuit, gravy & sausage and the scrambled egg, bacon & cheese shown on this page.”
I asked, “So, what did everyone say?”
“Everyone loved them,” he replied. I think the biscuit and gravy pie was the biggest hit, though.”
Johnny C’s serves beer and wine and has dine-in, take-out with online ordering, as well as delivery with Grubhub, Uber Eats, Seamless and Toast.
As it says on the Johnny C’s website, “Come and visit us at Johnny C’s Italian Eatery, where every bite is a tribute to our family heritage and a celebration of life, love, and good food.”
But, don’t just take our word for it — Johnny C’s has a 4.8-star (out of 5) overall rating on Google — on more than 600 reviews! As Charlene B. said in her 5-star review: “The food was AMAZING! The owner was great. He came out and talked to us and thanked us for coming. You can tell the heart he put into the restaurant & food. It was my first time coming and I told him I’d be back — two days later! I definitely found my new favorite,go-to Italian food. 10/10 recommend!”
For more information about Johnny C’s Italian Eatery 10970 Cross Creek Blvd. (at Morris Bridge Rd.), Suite A, is open for dinner only Monday-Friday, 4 p.m.-9 p.m. and for lunch and dinner on Saturday (11:30 a.m.-9 p.m.) and Sunday (3 p.m.-9 p.m.). For more information, call (813) 278-8020 or visit JohnnyCsItalianEatery.com.
For those who have been wondering what might be taking over the space at 25026 Wesley Chapel Blvd., Lutz, previously occupied by Shuckin’ Shack (just west of the Tampa Premium Outlets and Costco, in the same small strip plaza as Chicken Salad Chick and Ann’s Nail Spa), you can stop wondering!
The location, with an entrance off of the Wesley Chapel Blvd. extension just south of S.R. 56, is being taken over by Sarasota-based mini-chain Food + Beer and, best of all, the scratch kitchen with full liquor bar should be open by the time this issue reaches your mailbox!
According to a news release we received just before we went to press with this issue, “Food + Beer’s story started back in the early 2000s, when co-founders Mike Whalen and Casey Daniels first crossed paths working in restaurants — Mike as a server and Casey as a kitchen manager.
“What began as a solid working relationship turned into a real friendship, and eventually a shared dream: to create a place that serves up seriously good, scratch-made food in a laid-back, welcoming atmosphere. In 2018, they brought that vision to life in Sarasota’s Gulf Gate neighborhood, and it quickly took off.
“Today, the brand has grown into a local favorite (with seven current locations — two in Bradenton, three in Sarasota, one in Venice and one in Lakeland) and is known for good food, good people, and laid back vibes — now expanding across the Gulf Coast with more locations on the way, including Ellenton and West Tampa coming in 2026.”
The newest Food + Beer will seat 150 guests and, “Just like every Food + Beer, the kitchen is scratch-made, serving food until 1 a.m. (or later) — a welcome spot for those in the hospitality industry to grab a bite or a drink after a late shift. Guests can dig into house staples like fresh-cut fries, hand-breaded boneless nuggets, specialty burgers, and the flavorful Korean Beef Bowl — alongside creative comfort food with a twist, like Red Velvet Chicken & Waffles during brunch or Crab Rangoon Mozzarella Sticks that hit all the right notes.”
Food + Beer keeps things lively all week long with daily lunch specials starting at $8, plus the following lineup of weekly events and deals:
• Burger Monday – Cheeseburger + fresh-cut fries for $6.99
• Taco Tuesday – A variety of taco options with a side of chips and pico, as well as a build-your-own margarita menu
• Weekend Brunch – Featuring a build-your-own bottomless mimosa bar every Sat. & Sun.
Plus, “to keep things fresh, the team rolls out a seasonal menu four times a year, spotlighting new, scratch-made dishes and limited-time cocktails, paired with a signature cocktail list and a rotating selection of local beers.
The restaurant will feature an outdoor patio, a TV wall — perfect for catching the big game — and many more TVs.
We stopped in to check out the progress on the new Wesley Chapel/Lutz location, and it already looked a lot like the finished product shown here, so we decided just to show you the photo provided by Food + Beer above.
“Were excited to join the neighborhood!,” Food + Beer director of marketing Cassi Knapik told me. We can’t wait to check it out either, Cassi!
For more info, visit eatfoodrinkbeer.com or @foodand.beer on social media. — GN, all photos provided by Food + Beer
