deputy say 31-year-old erik mcbeth worked as a baker in the hudson area. he never caused any trouble and will be missed. mcbeth is 31.>>> the latest of a long history of wrong way crash is -- crashes. two people were killed in a wrong way crash onto 75 in tampa from 2009 until 2014. 36 wrong way crashes all in the bay area. several fatal. dot says most of the crashes involved in per drivers. saw flashing signs that hotspots. they install vehicle detectors and cameras and certain intersections. >>> your thoughts and prayers continued to pour in this morning. offer condolences to the family and deputies. go to the action news facebook page. >>> tampa police need your help finding a driver who left a young bicyclist for that. a. truck hit that 22-year-old man at e. 30th avenue. in n. hippie st., saturday morning. he was taken to the hospital where he is still fighting for his life. the truck is described as an older dark blue pickup, possibly a toyota, with a full bed topper any damage windshield and worth. please call police if you have information. >>> tampa

investigators piecing together by 31-year-old erik mcbeth was driving westbound in the eastbound lane of the selmon expressway. to the speeding and hit caught felis patrol car head-on. kotfila was well-liked. who wanted to be a traffic homicide investigator. you can imagine his colleagues were very emotional after this crash. take a listen. >> it is like losing a family member. and it drives at home to all of the deputies because it could of been his car or anyone else's car. >> for -- funeral arrangements are pending and this is the fifth wrong way down this year in the tampa bay area. what fdot plans to do coming up. for now, jake peterson, abc action news. the man driving the wrong way and the deadly crash. 31-year-old erik mcbeth was behind the wheel and he worked his neighbor say never cause >>> this is the latest in a long history of wrong way crash is in the bay area. killed in a wrong way crash onto 75 in tampa from 2009 it 36 wrong way crash is. all in the bay area. several of them were fatal. fdot said the crashes involved in prayer drivers. hoping to curb the problem fdot i

investigators say erik mcbeth drove his suv the wrong way onto the selmon expressway. he then crashed -- head on -- into the 30 year old deputy john kotfila, early saturday morning. both were killed. flags remain lowered at the sheriff's fallen heroes memorial in ybor city to honor deputy kotfila. in maryland, many are mourning the death of an officer killed in the line of duty. police say officers were working at the police station on sunday when a man started firing his gun a them. after he shot the first officer, officers started shooting back. an undercover narcotics officer was killed and the suspect was hurt. police are calling this situation a quote, "unprovoked attack." the fallen officer is a four-year veteran. he was about to several people are hurt after a train derailment in kansas overnight. it happened about 20 miles west of dodge city. five cars reportedly went off the track at about midnight. there were 128 people on board and 14 crew members. none of the injuries are considered life threatening. right now, an investigation is underway into what caused

erik mcbeth of hudson began driving the wrong way from the brandon exit. eagle eight hd captured video of the scene west of the i-75 exit where the two cars collided. this sudden loss stunned those in the sheriff's office. >> these guys were, these men and women are, excuse me, the men and women are out there trying to protect everybody, and these guys are very concerned about the drivers at night. in fact, this deputy had hoped to become a traffic homicide investigator at some point in his c. >> we are told that family members of the deputy are on their way here from up north and should arrive sometime today in the bay area. flags at hillsborough county sheriff's office are at half staff right now to honor the service of department kotfila. we're told he served with the hillsborough county sheriff's office for six years. >> such an emotional time for his many brothers and sisters in law enforcement. mary mcguire, live this morning, thank you. >>> tampa police immediate your help finding a hit-and-run driver. police say a bicyclist was hit on north 50th st

completing a crash investigation around three yesterday morning when authorities tell us 31-year-old erik mcbeth of hudson began driving the wrong way from the brandon exit. eagle eight hd captured video of the scene west of i-95 where the two cars collided. investigators aren't concluding that this crash is alcohol related but the majority of the wrong way crashes have been. >> i think it is highlighting a bigger issue between distracted driving and dui. at this time of night, you know there, are a lot of people that have been consuming alcoholic beverages out on the road, but we need to pay attention what we're doing on the. >>reporter: we're told all traffic control warning signs and centrals were all and -- signals were up and running alerting drivers that it was closed to westbound traffic. of police officers. his brother and father are police officers in massachusetts. his families are travelling to the area and should arrive here sometime today. >> our haertsz and prayers going -- our hearts and prayers going out to the family. thank you. >>> wrong way crashes are a major problem plaguing

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investigators received a toxicology report today and sent 31-year-old erik mcbeth limit. kotfila died. a woman said she was the one that was hit by the wrong way driver when kotfila got in front of her. >>> frosty weather in parts of the bay area. let's go to ashley batey. temperatures tonight especially for folks into the nature coast. hernando county, under a frost advisory. for the rest of the area, slightly warmer and not seeing the same issues with frost that you want the jackets if you're heading out the door as areas around the bay will see temperatures in the 40s. i will talk more about that coming up. >>> breaking news. in the case of former professional wrestler hulk hogan allegedly awarded him more money than he is already one in the trial. punitive damages. let's go to jennifer titus who is live at a press conference. >> reporter: i feel great. i am happy about everything. i think we made history today because i think we protected a lot of people from going through what i went through so we are excited. >> talk about the support you've got from the community.

who hit and killed a deputy and had a blood alcohol level iii times the legal limit. 31-year-old erik mcbeth was driving when he hit deputy john could feel you have on. deputy kotfila is being laid to rest of this week. >>> the question stands, was -- what is it going to take to make roads safer. we are asking fdot tough questions. >>> we know the names of the men killed in this fiery plane crash on davis island on friday. friends and relatives identified 54-year-old capri see and kevin grano. the transportation safety board said they are interviewing the pilot of another plane that took off with peter overnight airport. went wrong. >>> the only survivor of a crash is spending his 21st birthday recovering in the hospital. three young men were killed in this crash. cyr said officers say they were headed on university parkway between or bradenton and desoto road when they crashed into a tree. investigators tell us they were going so fast the crash caused the car to split in half. >> the officers how to tell the families that three >> the officers how to tell the families that 321-year-old live

the other driver is "erik mcbeth".. from hudson. they believe mcbeth drove around warning signs and barriers..to enter the wrong direction kotfila was a six-year veteran. funeral plans have not yet been announced.. but the sheriff's office says a memorial could take place later today. 3 3 just one more day until the political spotlight shines on florida. the campaigns are heating up...with the primaries quickly approaching. and republican frontrunner donald trump will be in tampa today. 3 police are preparing for supporters and protestors to gather around the convention center...where trump will be speaking. and sarah palin will be there too.. as fox13's 'aaron mesmer" tells us, she's trying to help trump pick up some more steam...and more votes. 3 "sarah!!! sarah palin's 30- minute stop at the strawberry festival was almost all about stumping for trump."he is, in all the good ways, the outsider who hasn't been a part of the problems that we're facing today." the former vice presidential candidate endorsed donald trump several weeks

erik mcbeth was also killed in that crash. and investigators are looking into whether alcohol may have been a factor here. >>> and we want to check on detours around the first crash in st. petersburg. >> we have a couple issues going on right now. it's a tough drive in pinellas county. in st. pete, following this for you throughout the morning, folks. what you need to remember is that central avenue is completely blocked as they continue their investigation and so forth right at 54th street where the big accident happened. again, central avenue completely closed down. just go up and take 1st avenue north or south, they run parallel and they are excellent at getting by through the area. traffic still light in the area. and again, an easy alternate. so that's good news. and big issue on the courtney campbell causeway, westbound lanes are blocked here. there's an accident involving a semi-truck, another vehicle and a pole has been knocked down. never good when there's an accident but especially not good when there's a pole knocke

. >> reporter: we may never know old erik mcbeth's mind when he decided to drive west in the eastbound lanes of the selmon expressway. what we do know is that all the traffic signals were up and running alerting drivers that those lanes were closed. flashing lights, neon barricades driving along town center boulevard in brandon, it would have been very hard, almost impossible not to notice that the selmon expressway ramp is closed to westbound traffic just like it was early saturday morning. despite those measures authorities say mcbeth could have driven up this exit ramp. we reversed this video of our drive in to show you the possible path mcbeth took before colliding with deputy kotfila's patrol car head on. >> it could have been his car, could have been anyone else's car. >> reporter: in the dark of night it's possible the deputy didn't spot the wrong-way driver until it was too late just west of i-75. with all the warning signs and signals up and running at the time of the crash what else can be done to stop this wrong-way problem? >> the million dollar question is how do we preven

. >> the driver of the wrongway car, erik mcbeth, died in the crash. highway patrol is investigating to determine if alcohol was a factor and figure out how he got his car on to the expressway. the barriers were down at the time. the deputy's funeral will be hell this friday. visitation begins at 11:00 a.m. the funeral starts at 1:00. massachusetts{ where his family lives. his father is a member of the massachusetts state police. >> the maryland poli today. three brothers of hand arrested for the death of officer jacai colson. investigator says michael ford wanted to die so he opened fire outside the police station, and during struck and investigators say it have been prestretches ford's brothers hadn't just sat and watch from the car. >> that image is of one of the ford brothers standing by, take nothing action, on a vid this, his brother, shooting at police officers. they knew in advance, they had every opportunity to call 9-1-1. they had every opportunity to seek medical help. they did nothing. more than 20 charges. colson was a four-year veteran on

"god bless --walter 3 the driver of the wrong-way car, erik mcbeth, also died in the crash. highway patrol troopers are trying to determine if *alcohol was a factor... and also exactly *how his car got onto the selmon expressway. 3 (walter deputy kotfila's funeral will be held this friday... at st. timothy's catholic church in lutz. visitation begins at 11 a-m... the funeral will start at one o'clock. he will be buried in *massachusetts, where his *family lives. 3 3 (vanessa the excitement is *building at legoland today. they're about to make five announcements... about future expansion at the theme park in winter haven. it's all tied to their fifth birthday, coming up in october... and today, they'll reveal what's coming... brick-by-brick... get it? it's supposed to be the *largest expansion in the park's history. we should and 10 this morning. 3 3 --walter 3 it pays to bull-ieve! the u-s-f women's basketball team is heading to the big dance! they're seeded *sixth in the bridgeport region of the upcoming n- c-double-a tourney. they'll travel to los angeles for an opening ro

the driver who caused the accident, erik mcbeth, also died. now the question is what more can be done to prevent the epidemic of wrong-way crashes and deaths in the bay area. it is a question we posed again and again in the past and these incidents keep happening, this very latest claiming the life of a beloved member of law enforcement. news channel 8's chip osowski joining us live from the sheriff's office. his friends and family is asking the same thing. >> reporter: they certainly are, mel. i spoke with the deputy today. she told me that is the talk around the sheriff's office. obviously it's only a matter of time. these deputies patrol 24/7 the very same roadways where we're seeing these motorists drive the wrong way. flashing lights and barricades c tying along town center boulevard in bran -- driving along town center boulevard in brandon, it would be very hard, if not impossible, to not notice the selmon expressway ramp is closed to westbound traffic just like early saturday morning. despite these warnings authorities say mcbeth could

the other driver was also killed: "erik mcbeth" from hudson. investigators think: mcbeth drove around warning signs and barriers, and got on the expressway, going the wrong direction. funeral plans have not been announced yet. 3 3 (walter) last week, attorneys for hulk hogan rested their case. this morning, witnesses for "gawker" will take the stand. 3 (walter hogan's attorneys wrapped-up their case friday, gossip website, gawker, had made *millions of dollares off hogan's suffering. an expert claims: the site's value increased by 15-million after it posted clips from slept with bubba the love sponge's wife, heather clem, and made racist remarks. now hogan is suing the website's parent company for 100-million dollars, claiming invasion of privacy. gawker argues: it had the right to publish it, under the first amendment. 3 ((vanessa)) there has been an amtrak train derailment overnight in kansas.. five cars overturned..((walter)) there are injuries.. we'll bring you the latest - right after the break.. 3 ((walter and: a robot.. with feelings.. t

. >> the driver of the wrong-way car, erik mcbeth, also died in the crash. the highway patrol is investigating to determine if alcohol was other factor and figure out how the car got on the expressway going the wrong way. the toll barrier was down and wasn't damaged. so they don't think he got on that way. they have a number of traffic{ cameras to examine for clues. is a police officer in massachusetts. >> our thoughts with them. thank you, what a store. the funeral will be held on friday at timothy's catholic church. visitation begins at 11:00 a.m. and the funeral begins at one ones. >> so sad. i just think we're all amatessed at his sacrifice. >> the ultimate act of heroism. >> a teenager finds a surprise in her shower in the middle of the night. >> just when you think you have heard it all. we'll tell you what it was that had her calling the sheriff's office right away. >> body cameras has connections to a body camera company and wasn't revealed until we started asking question. our investigation is coming up at 10:30. mike? >> we have the warm and have b

on saturday pmorning when erik mcbeth hit pkotfila head-on. pinvestigators are now trying to pfigure out why mcbeth was going pthe wrong way. pneighbors say he was supposed to pgo out of town to celebrate a pbirthday up north. pthey aren't sure where he was in pthe brandon area that early. pblood tests will determine if he pwas impaired at the time of the paccident. p>> alcides: tampa police are plooking this morning for a phit-and-run driver as a pbicyclist was left are plife-threatening injuries. pwitnesses say the driver was a pman with medium-length blonde phair and the pickup truck was pdark blue, possibly black, ossibly a toyota. pif you have any information pabout this crash, contact tpd. p>>> over in pasco county a man pis under arrest this morning pafter deputies say he tried to pkidnap a woman in hudson earlier pthis week. pthe victim says she was in the pcar with that man, 44-year-old pjason shet hand, when he asked pif she wanted to shoek pot with phim. pwhen she refused, he allegedly ut a plastic bag over her head pleaving. pshe j

pthe driver, erik mcbeth, was paulz killed. pkotfila's father was a psergeant. pkotfila was just 30 years old. p>>> police are still searching pfor the person that hit and pkilled a driver in ybor city and pkept going after 10:00 last pnight on republica decuba north. prepublica de cuba was shut town pto traffic but is now re-opened. p>>> in clearwater police pinvestigate an accident where a edestrian was hit and killed paround 8:00 in the area of phercules avenue. pan adult man was hit and killed. pdriver. pthe roads were closed while olice investigated, but they phave since re-opened. p>> lindsay: switching gears pnow, 7:30. pwelcome to your sunday morning. pstill dark in some spots because pof the time change. psunrise is in nine minutes, and pthe clouds have already started pto thicken in the coastal pcounties. pit's 70 degrees in tampa and dry pto start out the day and it's pdry in st. pete. pwe're at usf looks towards the pgrand prix where we have a huge prace today. pi love to keep it dry the whole ptime, but at some point we see pshowers and we're as coo

he died when erik mcbeth drove the wrong way on the selmon head-on. investigators are now looking into whether alcohol was a factor here. >>> a, jr. road project along u.s. 41 in lutz. crews will close the highway near crenshaw lake road to repair the railroad crossing. some worries the closing will cause major delays. >>> let's get straight to leslee lacey for a look at detours. >> we are heading into rush hour, already seeing delays lutz area. and crenshaw lake road is also known as whitaker road. nebraska. you can take dale mabry highway up in this area. it looks good. not seeing any delays at this point. but a decent drive nonetheless. and then avoid everything. central avenue remains closed. talking about that earlier accident there. they have still got lanes blocked down on central right at 54th street due to the stolen vehicle that collided with the police officers. so take 1st avenue north or south instead. courtney campbell causeway westbound, all lanes are blocked. you will want to take that howard franklin bridge and then eastbound we've go