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Father suspected of drowning toddler dies after swerving in front of truck
( 2003-09-16 14:35) (Agencies)

A former college basketball player suspected of drowning his toddler daughter and attempting to drown his 4-year-old son killed himself by swerving into the path of a tractor trailer, authorities said. His two other children were injured in the crash.

Police believe the drowning and crash that killed Bryan Christopher Randall are the result of a dispute with his estranged wife. In a suicide letter found in the wreckage, Randall, 37, wrote he wanted to kill himself and his children because he didn't approve of how his ex-wife was caring for them, authorities said.

``I had to take them with me,'' said the letter, which was released by authorities.
The note made it plain that the wreck was ``a planned event,'' said Lake Mary Police Chief Richard Beary. He said the case was being investigated as a murder-suicide.

The crash happened about eight miles (13 kilometers) north of the small lake where Randall's 2-year-old daughter Yana and 4-year-old son Regal were found Sunday morning by a fisherman. The boy was in serious condition Monday, and an autopsy was to be done on his sister.

Investigators said the crash occurred after Randall, in his sport utility vehicle parked on the eastbound shoulder of Interstate 4, made a hard left turn into the

path of an oncoming truck hauling cars.

Randall, who is a former Ivy League basketball star, was pronounced dead at Orlando Regional Medical Center, Beary said. Eight-year-old Bryan also was in critical condition and 6-year-old Julian was in stable condition following the crash, hospital spokesman Joe Brown said.

Police said Randall picked up all four children Friday night and was supposed to return them Sunday night to his estranged wife, Lisa, but never did.

When the children were not returned, their mother contacted police Monday morning. She was taken to Florida Hospital Orlando, where she identified the two found in the lake.
The Randalls were married for nine years but began divorce proceedings in May, Calhoun said. Court records show Lisa Randall, 41, obtained a restraining order against her husband last month.

Messages left at her home Monday were not returned.

Randall played basketball at Dartmouth, where he was named first-team all-Ivy League in 1988. He was named the league's Rookie of the Year in 1985 and he finished his collegiate career as the school's all-time assists leader, with 488 in 98 games.

The lake where Yana and Regal were discovered is in an office park about six miles (10 kilometers) north of Orlando.

 
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