A transportation watchdog hopes that a slight strengthening of the U.S. dollar in the past week will eventually curb the rising price of gas for homeowners and motorists.

But for now, the price at the pump continues to rise.

In Florida, a gallon of regular was selling on average for $2.80, up 2 cents from a week earlier, according to AAA Auto Club South.
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HOBE SOUND — Two women were killed this afternoon in a vehicle crash on U.S. 1, the Florida Highway Patrol said in a news release.

Katleen Bridgit Lacovara, 52, of Hobe Sound and Florence A. Wise, 73, of Hobe Sound both sustained fatal injuries after their vehicles collided on U.S. 1 shortly after 1 p.m., the FHP news release said.

According to the release, Lacovara was traveling northbound on U.S. 1, just north of Heritage Road when her 2004 Saturn Sedan began to veer partially onto the east shoulder of U.S. 1. Lacovara over corrected the steering direction, causing her vehicle to veer in a westerly direction and into the southbound lanes of U.S. 1. The sedan crossed the grass median and into the path of Wise’s 2001 Mercury Van.

Wise’s van struck the right side of Lacovara’s sedan. Lacovara died at the scene. Wise was transported to the Martin Memorial South hospital, where she later died, the release said.

HOBE SOUND — Four people were injured in a fiery four-car crash at the intersection of U.S. 1 and Heritage Boulevard about 7 p.m. Monday, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

One person had to be extricated from a vehicle, and one was flown to the trauma center at St. Mary’s Medical Center in West Palm Beach.

According to the report, the crash happened when a 2001 Pontiac sedan operated by Chester A. Ash, 20, of Port St. Lucie, turned left from the southbound lane toward Heritage Boulevard without yielding to oncoming traffic.
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STUART — Investigators said they are trying to learn more about a homeless man killed in a car crash last month.

Thomas Patrick Collins, 67, was killed while on foot in the Dec. 18 traffic accident in the 700 block of South Federal Highway, police said.

Detectives have been unable to locate any of Collins’ relatives. Anyone with information about Collins should contact Detective Derek Ortado at (772) 220-3906.

By Lamaur Stancil

Blanca Juarez

The Florida Highway Patrol charged Blanca Idalia Juarez, 25, of the 500 block of 13th Place, Vero Beach, with driving while under the influence, two counts of child neglect and two counts of battery on a law enforcement officer. She posted $12,500 bail Sunday.
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PORT ST. LUCIE — A motorcycle rider was flown to a provisional
trauma center early Monday after a crash at Southwest Alcantarra and
Southwest Port St. Lucie boulevards, a St. Lucie County Fire District
spokeswoman said.

Fire district crews responded at 2:08 a.m., and found the motorcycle
rider, a man in his early 40s, on the ground near the motorcycle, Fire
District spokeswoman Catherine Chaney said. (more…)

STUART — Attorneys in a wrongful death lawsuit filed shortly after the Aug. 4 Cove Road collision that killed three teenagers want to question staff at BJ’s Sports Bar and Grill in Stuart on duty the evening leading up to the late night crash.

Passengers Connor W. Graver, 16, Christopher H. Briglio, 18, and driver Nicholas P. Coady, also 18, died Aug. 4 after their Jeep slammed into a front end loader on Southeast Cove Road that was working as part of a road construction project in the area south of Stuart.

Graver’s parents, on behalf of their son Conner, were the first to sue Sheltra & Son Construction Co., claiming the Indiantown company failed to safely maintain the area where the crash occurred.
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