Truckdriver and OOIDA member Roger Lee Ware died Nov. 5 of head injuries suffered in an attack at a San Antonio, FL, truckstop. Ware's death came less than two weeks after a trucker was shot outside another truckstop at the same exit.

Ware, 59, of Milan, OH, was found unconscious in the parking lot at the Dixie Boy Truck Stop at I-75 and Florida Highway 52 about 1:30 a.m. Monday by another trucker. He was flown by helicopter to St. Joseph Hospital in Tampa.

Ware reportedly drove the route between Ohio and Florida weekly. He was hauling kitchen cabinets, but his cargo wasn't stolen.

Pasco County Sheriff's Detective Alan Proctor said authorities continued to investigate leads.

"We've received a lot of promising information and hope to have an arrest soon," Proctor said.

Shortly after midnight Oct. 22, two South Florida drivers hauling about $350,000 worth of Columbian cigarettes were hijacked at the nearby Flying J Travel Plaza. One of the truckers was shot in the attack while trying to escape.

Trucker and OOIDA member Paul Sasso, Edgewater, FL, said many truckers frequent the exit north of Tampa.

"That's the first place truckers stop outside Tampa for food and to wash up," Sasso said. "It's a reasonably nice area, and the Dixie Boy has a golf course right behind it. I stop there quite a bit, and I'm not aware of any crime problems there."

Proctor said crime near the exit normally was not a problem.

"The two recent incidents are unrelated. The area typically is very quiet and safe," he said.

Anyone who was at the Dixie Boy between 11 p.m. Sunday and 1:30 a.m. Monday, or has any information about the incident, should call Proctor at (800) 854-2862, ext. 5115.
Keith Goble, staff writer