HOLMES BEACH – The driver towing a boat that was struck on Memorial Day morning by another vehicle on Manatee Avenue was determined by police to be at fault for the accident.
The accident occurred in front of the Kingfish Boat Ramp on Monday, May 25, at 9:15 a.m. The accident scene was cleared at 12:02 p.m. The accident compounded traffic delays on an already busy Memorial Day morning.
Keith Miller, 67, of Bradenton, was issued a citation for failure to yield to oncoming traffic while making a left turn. According to the Florida Traffic Crash Report obtained from the Holmes Beach Police Department, Miller was making a left turn out of the Kingfish Boat Ramp onto eastbound Manatee Avenue. A vehicle traveling westbound struck the rear of the trailer and the boat came off the trailer, resting at an angle across both eastbound and westbound lanes.
Witnesses told police Miller’s vehicle’s tires were spinning as he pulled out onto the roadway, causing the vehicle to lose traction, which slowed its movement across the road. Witnesses stated the driver of the westbound vehicle hit the brakes hard but could not avoid striking the trailer.
Miller told police that he frequently pulls out of that parking lot and the vehicle that struck his vehicle should have stopped for him. The driver of the vehicle that struck the trailer, and one passenger in that vehicle, were transported by EMS to HCA Florida Blake Hospital for their reported injuries.
FUTURE SOLUTION?
Exiting the Kingfish Boat Ramp into heavy Manatee Avenue traffic while towing a boat can be a challenge.
“People have to use caution and make sure vehicles have stopped and there is a clear opening,” Holmes Beach Police Chief Bill Tokajer said. “That being said, people on Manatee Avenue should be kind and allow access.”
Kingfish Boat Ramp is a Manatee County facility and Manatee Avenue is a state roadway maintained by the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT). Tokajer said it might be several years before a better solution for exiting the Kingfish Boat Ramp parking lot is implemented.
“FDOT is talking about having people make a right turn only out of Kingfish and using a roundabout at East Bay Drive and Manatee Avenue. When it was last discussed, it was said it could be six to eight years down the road. Right now, it’s not even in the design phase,” Tokajer said.
“First and foremost, our thoughts are with everyone involved in the Memorial Day crash,” Manatee County Communications Manager Casey Zempel stated in a May 29 email to The Sun.
“The county is always interested in opportunities to improve safety for residents and visitors using our parks and boat ramps. As we learn more about the circumstances surrounding this incident, we will continue coordinating with our transportation partners and reviewing any recommendations that may help enhance safety in the area,” Zempel wrote.
Zempel stated the county is committed to working collaboratively with FDOT and other stakeholders to ensure access points such as the Kingfish Boat Ramp operate safely and efficiently.
FACEBOOK COMMENTS
In response to the accident story posted at The Sun’s Facebook page, several people commented on the challenges drivers face when exiting the Kingfish Boat Ramp and turning left onto Manatee Avenue.
“Anyone that has tried to exit Kingfish boat ramp trailering their boat knows that leaving is dependent on traffic yielding their right of way. Otherwise, there’s no leaving at all,” Joseph Scott wrote.
Julie Sikes Zatkovich wrote, in part: “Most of us choose to stop simply to avoid an accident, but we have no legal mandate to stop. Witnesses said the driver tried to stop. The real issue that needs to be addressed is the overcrowded area and no safe way for anyone to make a left turn out of there because there is never a break in the through traffic.”
Beth Morris Davis wrote: “If you’ve ever tried getting out of the boat ramp making a left turn, you’d understand why his tires we’re spinning to get out. The traffic is non-stop and you almost always have to pull out in front of someone, or you’ll just sit there waiting! People don’t want to slow down or be courteous.”
Jenna Sloan wrote, in part: “On a good day, it’s hard to pull out of that boat ramp without having to cut someone off; and most people that are locals know there likely is going to be someone pulling out of the boat ramp.”
Devlin Skahill wrote, “I’m surprised they were able to go fast enough to crash into somebody at 9:15 in the morning.”
