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One Local Music Teacher Slain, Another Critically Injured by Alleged Drunk Driver
One elementary school music teacher is dead and another is in critical condition after allegedly being struck by a drunk driver early Sunday morning.
Pinellas Park Police say that Bryce McCloud, a 36-year old man from St. Petersburg, was driving a new Toyota Corolla Saturday night when he hit the 2003 Toyota Camry driven by Caroline Sue Sine and with Sean Hankins as a passenger at around 1 A.M in the 4000 block of Park Boulevard. They allege McCloud ran a red light, and officers at the scene say they believe he was impaired at the time of the accident. Officers allege that his eyes were bloodshot and his breath smelled of alcohol. Although he declined to participate in a field sobriety test, they say he informed them that he had consumed alcohol with dinner prior to the event.
Sine, 34, was pronounced dead by doctors at Bayfront Health St. Petersburg Monday morning. According to a district spokesperson she worked as a music teacher at Sexton, Blanton, Bay Point, Bay Vista, and Pinellas Central elementary schools. Her funeral service will be on Sunday afternoon at Pinellas Park Performing Arts Center.
Hankins, 36, was in critical condition at Bayfront Health St. Petersburg at last report. He works as a music teacher at Miles and Shaw elementary schools in Hillsborough County.
McCloud, who also goes by the name “Brice MacLeod,” was booked into Pinellas County Jail just before 6 A.M. on Sunday. He was initially booked for two counts of DUI with serious bodily injury, with his bail set at $20,000. One count of DUI manslaughter was added upon Sine’s passing later Monday. His bail is currently set at $175,005, and he has yet to bond out at the time of this writing. According to local media, he will be fitted with a GPS tracking device should he post bond and be released.
The Law Offices of Bjorn Brunvand have been defending those charged with drunken driving crimes for a quarter century. Contact us today to discuss your Tampa Bay-area charges.
