Skip to main content

Tag: fatality

Bicyclist loses life in Longboat Key accident

Bicyclist loses life in Longboat Key accident

Written by Joe Hendricks on . Posted in Community News, Featured, Longboat Key.

Updated April 28, 2019 – LONGBOAT KEY – A bicyclist died Monday, April 22 after being involved in a fatal accident on Gulf of Mexico Drive.

Ridgley Harrison III, 67, of New York died in the accident, according to Sarasota Police Department Public Information Officer Genevieve Judge.

The accident happened in the 5800 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive around 10:30 a.m. The 5800 block is south of Cannon’s Marina and north of Harry’s Corner Store.

“We’re working in partnership with Longboat Key Police Department right now. Our traffic unit is conducting this investigation for the Longboat Key Police Department because they currently do not have any traffic homicide investigators,” Judge said Monday evening.

“Preliminary information is that this is a bicycle versus vehicle fatality crash. The bicyclist, an adult male, was transported from the scene to Blake Medical Center where he was pronounced dead. The crash remains under investigation,” Judge said.

The accident and the ensuing investigation rendered that section of Gulf of Mexico Drive impassable to vehicular traffic for more than an hour.

Bradenton Beach Police Officer Eric Hill said he responded to a followup call to retrieve a paramedic’s laptop computer that was left behind at the crash scene.

On May 8, 2018, a pedestrian was struck and killed while crossing Gulf of Mexico Drive near the Whitney Plaza at the north end of Longboat Key.

Longboat Key resident killed crossing Gulf of Mexico Drive

Written by Joe Hendricks on . Posted in Community News, Featured.

LONGBOAT KEY – Longboat Key resident Warren Roberts, 85, was killed the morning of Tuesday, May 8 after being struck by two northbound vehicles as he attempted to cross Gulf of Mexico Drive, near the Whitney Beach Plaza, south of Cedar Street.

The accident and ensuing investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol resulted in Gulf of Mexico Drive being closed for more than six hours at the north end of Longboat Key.

Southbound motorists leaving Anna Maria Island via the Longboat Pass Bridge were diverted back toward Bradenton Beach by Bradenton Beach Police and Longboat Key Police as they neared the shopping plaza.

According to the press release issued by the Florida Highway Patrol on Tuesday afternoon, a 2016 Hyundai Tucson driven by Palmetto resident Richard Sullo, 71, and a 2000 Mercedes Benz ML 350 driven by Longboat Key resident Cheri Zupa, 41, were both northbound on State Road 789/Gulf of Mexico Drive at 6 a.m. Tuesday morning, with Sullo’s vehicle traveling ahead of Zupa’s vehicle.

Roberts was on the east side of the road and began to walk westbound across Gulf of Mexico Drive, moving into the path of Sullo’s vehicle. The front of Sullo’s vehicle then collided with Roberts. Roberts was propelled onto the roadway north of the point of collision and was subsequently struck by the undercarriage of Zupa’s vehicle. Roberts’ injuries were fatal.

No charges are pending against either driver and Sullo was transported to Blake Medical Center after the collision due to a medical condition.

“That’s so sad. All the turtle patrol walkers for that zone would see him walking the beach every morning. We are all saddened by the news,” part-time Bradenton Beach resident Betsy Sillars said.

The south end of the accident scene was closed to traffic while awaiting the arrival of Florida Highway Patrol investigators. - Joe Hendricks | Sun

The south end of the accident scene was closed to traffic while awaiting the arrival of Florida Highway Patrol investigators. - Joe Hendricks | Sun

Longboat Key Police blocked Gulf of Mexico Drive near the accident scene and diverted southbound traffic back toward Bradenton Beach - Joe Hendricks | Sun

Longboat Key Police blocked Gulf of Mexico Drive near the accident scene and diverted southbound traffic back toward Bradenton Beach - Joe Hendricks | Sun

A damaged vehicle sits along the roadside on Gulf of Mexico Drive where a pedestrian was fatally struck. - Joe Hendricks | Sun

A damaged vehicle sits along the roadside on Gulf of Mexico Drive where a pedestrian was fatally struck. - Joe Hendricks | Sun

Holmes Beach logo OLD

Crash leaves pedestrian dead

Written by Tom Vaught on . Posted in Beach Beat, Community News.

 

HOLMES BEACH – A pedestrian was killed on Wednesday, Jan. 24 around 2 p.m. while crossing the street at 5600 Gulf Drive.

Marion and William Timmons of Thorold, Ontario, Canada were crossing the street, not in a crosswalk, when a vehicle traveling southbound driven by Tracey Leigh Thompson, of Anna Maria, hit them, according to the Holmes Beach Police report.

Thompson told police she didn’t see them until it was too late to stop. A witness in a condo balcony said he saw William Timmons try to hurry his wife across the street, but they didn’t get out of the way in time. Both were knocked down by the impact and both were seriously injured, according to the report.

The couple was taken to Blake Medical Center for treatment, where Marion Timmons succumbed to her injuries.

Thompson was not considered to be at fault, according to the police report.