Multi-Car Crash on Palmetto Park: Photos & Video

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Earlier today there was a major accident on Palmetto Park Road, between Lyons Road and Boca Rio, just west of the Turnpike bridge. Official reports on the 8000 block or near 8300 West Palmetto Park. Our best estimate of the time was sometime around 6:15 or 6:20 pm. It was definitely before 6:30 but we’re not sure how much earlier.

Several readers sent us photos from the scene and two sent us videos, which we have put together into one video, below:

We enhanced the lighting and color in most of the photos.
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We were told this was a four-car crash but as we look at the photos and video we think at least five cars were involved. We count four in the middle of the roadway and one on the side of the road (the first one visible in the video, and also below).
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Despite the tremendous damage we see to the vehicles it is our understanding at this moment that none of the occupants were killed. However, it’s not clear yet if people have been severely injured in this accident or not. If they have, we hope that they take appropiate action by hiring a law firm (hopefully they will get one with a contingency agreement). Let’s just hope they have nothing worse than a scratch though. We are still waiting on confirmtion on what has happened to the people involved. Although we are aware that they have been taking to hospital, this could just be as a precaution and it is unclear about what has actually happened.

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The accident was identified as a “Mass Casualty Incident Level 1” which is actually the lowest level of such incidents, with 5-10 patients. Level 2 MCIs involve 11-20 patients and it goes up from there.
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Of course this incident had a major impact on traffic on Palmetto Park Road and nearby roads as well including Lyons. We hope to update readers in the near future with details about what actually happened.

Bomb Squad Called to Mission Bay Plaza: Video and Photos

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Around 10 am today we were tipped off to a situation at Mission Bay Plaza. Readers and friends told us that there was a heavy police presence along with fire trucks. We headed over and took both pictures and video.
The main part of the story is a “suspicious package” that was found in the parking area between TD Bank and Bank of America. You can see a wide version of the scene in our photo at top. It took some time but eventually the Sheriff’s “EOD” team (Explosive Ordnance Disposal or bomb squad) determined that the package was safe to handle. In the sequence of photos below you can see an armored bomb squad member approach it, pick it up, and then start bringing it to their truck along with another team member who is even more heavily armored. PBSO tells us this was not the package in question, but watching it on scene we don’t see what else it could have been.
Another reader agrees with PBSO though:

There was something else made up of an umbrella, some sort of plastic container with a water bottle and some coins.

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Please note that all photos in this article are copyrighted by Warren Redlich. Media are welcome to reuse them by simply crediting @WestBocaNews or WestBocaNews.com. Most photos are available in higher resolution just by clicking on them.

There was a lot of police and fire rescue activity around the plaza. A large section of the parking lot and the area around the two banks were evacuated and blocked off by police tape.
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The bomb squad truck was in operation near Bank of America.
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After the package was secured, the heavily armored bomb squad team member got some help getting the helmet off.
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The suspicious package itself just looks like a tool kit:
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We asked PBSO for comment:

We received a call from Bank of America, located on Glades Road and 441, of a suspicious package. Deputies arrived evacuated both Bank of America and TD Bank then contained the area until Bomb and Arson arrived. Bomb and Arson arrived checked out the package and determined that there was no threat. Both banks were opened to continue business as usual.

We shot some video at the scene. Here’s our initial report:

Here's our initial report from the scene at Mission Bay this morning. Our full report is coming soon.

Posted by West Boca News on Thursday, April 30, 2015

And here’s our final video:

Our final video on the Mission Bay Bomb Squad incident. We will also do an article. Pictures at the end of the video.

Posted by West Boca News on Thursday, April 30, 2015

Olympic Heights Grad Passes Away in Jet Ski Accident

Joel Deleon in a 2014 photo
Joel Deleon in a 2014 photo

Many West Boca residents are mourning the passing of Joel Deleon, who died yesterday in a Jet Ski accident in South County Regional Park. Mr. Deleon was a graduate of Olympic Heights High School.
We were alerted to the incident by a tweet from Fire Rescue:
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Fire Rescue subsequently tweeted that the missing person had been found, but there were no further official statements.
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There were a number of comments from readers, including comments identifying Mr. Deleon (tagging his Facebook page) and that he had passed away.
Mr. Deleon’s Facebook page is now flooded with messages from friends. We can see dozens of them and it’s likely that there are many more we can’t see due to user privacy settings.
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One friend posted this picture:
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Another used this as a platform for advice, though we don’t know whether or not Mr. Deleon was wearing a life jacket:
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There is also a gathering planned for tonight, posted as a Facebook event and already with dozens of people going.
And there are so many more. Here are just a few:
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From West Boca News, we wish comfort to the Deleon family in this difficult time. Rest in peace Mr. Deleon.
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Another Accident at Glades and Cain

A few readers contacted us last night about an accident at the intersection of Glades and Cain. And a couple sent us pictures. Below are our enhanced versions of those images.
We do not have any further details on the accident our any injuries, though one reader pointed out that numerous Fire Rescue units were called to the scene.
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If any of our readers have further information polar let us know.

Rollover Accident on Glades: Photos and Eyewitness Account

For most web browsers, clicking on any photo in this article will bring up a larger image.
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Around 2:30 pm today we were notified of an accident on Glades Road at Ponderosa, and we headed over. We spoke to an eyewitness, Andrew Setzer of Margate. He reported that the white commercial vehicle was headed northbound on Ponderosa, crossing Glades. There were two vehicles headed westbound. The one in the left lane saw the white vehicle and slowed to avoid it. It appeared that the woman driving the black car did not see it, as perhaps her view was blocked by the vehicle to her left.
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The black car “T-boned” into the white commercial vehicle, causing it to roll onto its side. As Mr. Setzer saw it, the white vehicle failed to yield right of way and the black car was not traveling at an excessive speed. Accidents like this can happen out of nowhere, and it can cause not only physical, and emotional harm but financial harm as well. If you find yourself in a car accident, although it might not be what you think of first, you might want to look into getting in touch with someone like Joye Law Firm as they might be able to help you ease the harm an accident can cause.
The intersection of Glades and Ponderosa is about 1.5 miles west of 441:

In the photo below you can see the dent in the side of the white commercial vehicle on its right (top) side.
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The black car sustained extensive damage as can be seen in the photos below:
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The woman driving the black car was taken by an ambulance soon after we arrived. You can see her on a stretcher in the photo below:
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The driver of the white vehicle, marked with “Universal Blinds & Shutters, Inc.,” was also taken by ambulance later on. Here he is on a stretcher. Please note that with both we made an effort not to show their faces in this article.
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We are happy to report that neither of the drivers appeared to be critically injured. Both appeared to be conscious and communicating with Fire Rescue workers. In accidents such as the ones in this post it could have ended a lot differently, thankfully it didn’t here. There are many who hesitate when it comes to getting compensation for their accident, unsure what to do next. However it could be helpful for their recovery, helping with hospital bills and providing other types of financial help to those who have been affect by an a car accident. It is important to look into whether or not you can claim on an accident since since there is a time limit on when you can claim. If you would like to find out more information, you might want to read up on the icbc claim time limit as well as other information that might be helpful for your case.
The Fire Rescue crew was active on the scene. We saw them taking care of some kind of fluid spill in the roadway:
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As usual you can click on any photos in this article to see a larger version.
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