Pinellas Park Police

December 1st, 2:20 AM
Fatal Traffic Crash
US 19 / Mainlands Blvd N Pinellas Park
2008-32144

***Update ***Desmond King was arrested on February 4th, 2009 and charged with DUI Manslaughter for the death of Patrick Murphy.  Lab test results indicate that Kings blood alcohol level at the time of the crash was at least .096 and there was also indication King had recently used marijuana.  King was also charged with three other counts of DUI involving injury, felony DWLSR, careless driving and no insurance.

Police are investigating a crash between a 1993 Chevy Caprice 4D and a 2006 Peterbuilt box truck operated by the St. Petersburg Times.  The truck was northbound on US 19, loaded with newspapers headed toward Pasco County.  The car was southbound on US 19, being driven by 22 yoa Desmond King.  The car veered from the southbound lanes across the median into the northbound lanes in front of the oncoming truck.  The front of the truck hit the right side of the car.  The driver of the truck, Mark Vanpalla (age 55), the right front passenger (ejected from the car at impact) Roff Turnquist (age 24), left rear passenger David Rollins (age 22), and the driver of the car King, were all transported to the hospital (Bayfront).  Vanpella was released shortly after with only minor injuries.  The other three were admitted and remain at this time.  The right rear passenger in the car, identified as Patrick Murphy (dob 3-19-1986), was killed on impact.  Notification has been made to his family in Largo.

Preliminary information about the four persons in the Caprice is they were returning from a night out in Ybor City and their possible destination was the Howard Johnsons motel near the crash site where Roff Turnquist was staying.

This incident is being investigated as DUI related and will continue for several days.  Charges are pending at this time, including DUI manslaughter.  Investigators believe there were other witnesses to this crash and request anyone who saw this crash or has information regarding this crash to contact Sgt. Tracey Schofield at 727-541-0887.

Auth Capt S.A Forseth
Pinellas Park