Bay Bridge accident claims the life of a celebrated golf writer
Kent Island, Bay Bridge accident has claimed the life of the retired USA Today golf writer, Harry Blauvelt. The accident happened when Blauvelt stepped out of his 2001 Honda Accord to ascertain the cause of a temporary break down and was struck by a 2003
International truck.
The truck pushed Blauvelt’s car over him and the writer along with his car plunged into the water 50 feet below. He was rushed to the hospital after a difficult rescue operation and was later pronounced dead by the Anne Arundel Medical Center. Blauvelt had
just returned home to Kent Island after dropping his beloved Labrador, Elvis to the doggy day care.
Blauvelt had spent more than 25 glorious years as a sports writer and wrote most of Tiger Woods' stories about his phenomenal rise for the newspaper. He started off his career as a sports writer at the Gannett Newspaper in 1985 and later switched over to
writing exclusively on golf. He wrote on Woods' surge to the top with his first tournament win and his eventual domination of the sports. Blauvelt retired from the newspaper in 2004.
Blauvelt’ wife Ellen Gale and his friends remembered Blauvelt as a rebel who led a complete unorthodox and adventurous life. He was passionate about his work, scuba diving, Navy Football, Washington Capitals Hockey, movies and of course his dog Elvis.
Gal recalled his love for his companion, "They would walk the whole neighborhood together," she said. "He led a full, adventurous lifestyle, everyone has a Harry story, and no two will be the same."
Reid Cherner, Blauvelt’s friend and a reporter at USA Today said that Woods achieved his greatest of wins, when Blauvelt had been there covering the story.
"I don't think Tiger won a major without Harry being there," Cherner said. "If Harry wasn't there, Tiger didn't win."
Another friend of the deceased Hal Bodley, recalled about Blauvelt’s relentless passion towards his work and the way he absorbed the most arduous of tasks with amazing ease.
"No assignment was too big — or too small — for him. He approached each one with enthusiasm, rather than grouse about something he was not that interested in," Bodley said.
Blauvelt did not have any children. Sergeant Jonathan Green of the Maryland Transportation Authority Police disclosed that the driver of the truck has been identified and had been accused of over speeding in the past, and his arrest orders have been issued.
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