Crime & Safety
Lithia Man Dies in Bell Shoals Road Crash
Why did a 57-year-old Lithia man swerve to the right off Bell Shoals Road in Valrico, causing a single-vehicle crash that led to his death north of FishHawk Boulevard? There seemed to be no reason for him to do so, according to the sheriff's report
Wearing his seat belt wasn't enough to save 57-year-old Robert Van Bomel of Lithia, who on May 29 lost his life after a single-vehicle crash off Bell Shoals Road, near Blair House Boulevard in Valrico.
According to the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office report, Bomel was driving a 2006 Lincoln sports-utility vehicle about 45 miles-per-hour when the accident occurred.
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At about 4:20 p.m., Bomel reportedly swerved to the west off Bell Shoals Road, north of FishHawk Boulevard, "and into the culvert area of Blair House Boulevard." That action caused his vehicle to roll onto its roof and strike "several TECO [utility] poles and a tree."
Bomel, who would have turned 58 on June 8, reportedly was wearing his seatbelt at the time of impact.
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The report notes as well that witnesses said "there was no visible reason" for Bomel's car "to swerve to the right."
Blair House Boulevard in Valrico, at Bell Shoals Road, is the entranceway to Bloomingdale's Parkland Estates East development.
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