Wrongful Death

April 1, 2024

News: Hit-and-run in Pinellas Park claims life of 36-year-old man

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

PINELLAS PARK, FL – Local police declared a 36-year-old man dead at the scene after he was hit by a driver who fled the scene near the Lakeside Terrace Apartments Sunday.

ABC Action News said Pinellas Police responded to the scene — the 4200th block of 62nd Avenue North — after 9 a.m. Department investigators believe the suspect was operating a gray Hyundai Accent (the model year being between 2018 and 2022), which is said to be without a passenger side mirror and has major damage on the passenger side door.

The victim was later identified as Michael Vilaysack from St. Petersburg.

March 27, 2024

Male motorcyclist, 25, fatally hit by pickup truck in Tampa

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

TAMPA, FL – A 25-year-old man from Little Falls, New Jersey, who operated a Suzuki motorcycle lost his life after he was struck by a pickup truck driver Wednesday.

According to FOX 13 News, the events of this collision unfolded when the pickup truck driver, a 59-year-old man, tried to make a turn from northbound Dale Mabry Highway into a Walmart parking lot. He did not make it, as he collided with the motorcyclist traveling south.

The 59-year-old man and the passenger with him, a 52-year-old woman, also from Tampa, were uninjured. Florida Highway Patrol said the motorcyclist succumbed to fatal wounds at the scene.

February 28, 2024

News UPDATE: Police ID person who fatally hit man along Campbell Park

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

ST. PETERSBURG, FL – On Wednesday, police confirmed that it was a 34-year-old who intentionally ran his brother over along Campbell Park, leading him to die from his wounds.

To recap, this crash occurred before 2:45 a.m. Monday at the 7th Avenue South and 12th Street South junction. ABC Action News said the suspect’s name is Tyree Gland, and the victim who passed away was 35-year-old Taiwan James Gland. St. Petersburg police said Tyree ran over Taiwan twice before Taiwan succumbed to fatal wounds at the scene.

Tyree has yet to be found and was last seen driving away in a dark blue 2018 Cadillac ATS with the license plate number AT21AH. The passenger with Tyree at the time of the collision has been identified as 32-year-old Sebastian Williams, who is being “charged and arrested accessory after the fact to 1st-degree murder.” He was arrested Wednesday.

February 26, 2024

News: Driver fatally hits male pedestrian along Campbell Park

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

ST. PETERSBURG, FL – A man walking along Campbell Park died after he was struck by a driver purposefully, St. Petersburg Police revealed Monday.

This crash happened before 2:45 a.m. at the 7th Avenue South and 12th Street South junction, FOX 13 News indicated. Police said the pedestrian — 35-year-old Taiwan James Gland — died at the scene.

Gland was the father of an 18-year-old adult who passed away in a shooting along the Citrus Grove Apartments.

February 2, 2024

News: Fiery plane crash in Clearwater claims 3 lives

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

CLEARWATER, FL – Two people and a pilot lost their lives after a small plane crashed into a mobile home park complex, leading the plane to catch fire Thursday.

Several fire responders arrived at the scene — which happened near U.S. Highway 19 — before 7:30 p.m., according to WTSP. The two people who lost their lives were inside the mobile home, along with several others, at the time of the collision. It is not exactly clear what led the pilot to crash into the home. This home, along with three others, were destroyed.

One person from the mobile home was injured but declined medical treatment.

January 5, 2024

News: Female pedestrian, 70, loses life in St. Pete hit-and-run

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

ST. PETERSBURG, FL – A 70-year-old woman passed away Wednesday after she was struck at an intersection in the Deniston Heights neighborhood by a vehicle whose driver fled the scene.

The fatal collision happened after 6:30 p.m. at the 22nd Avenue North and 41st Street intersection, FOX 13 News reported. St. Petersburg Police said the victim was 70-year-old Karen Moorefield, who had dementia and was reported missing by her family less than an hour before. Though witnesses were performing CPR on her when police arrived, Moorefield succumbed to her wounds at the scene.

Police are searching for the suspect, whom they believe was driving a 2013-2016 Cadillac SRX SUV, which sustained front-end damage in the crash.

December 28, 2023

News: Collision in Gandy claims 58-year-old man’s life

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

ST. PETERSBURG, FL – A 58-year-old man had died, and a 23-year-old woman from Seminole was transported to a hospital after a crash in the Gandy area Wednesday.

This collision happened on the eastbound lanes of Gandy Boulevard adjacent to San Fernando Boulevard, according to WTSP.

Officials said the events of this crash unfolded when the 58-year-old man walked across Gandy and was struck by the woman from Seminole, operating a Nissan.

December 27, 2023

U-turn collision in Hillsborough Co. claims life of 17-year-old teen

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, FL – A 44-year-old man operating a Chevy Equinox made a U-turn and collided with a teenage driver’s vehicle, leading the 17-year-old to die from his injuries Sunday.

This collision happened before 2 a.m. on U.S. 41 near Villemarie Road, WFLA said. Florida Highway Patrol said the 44-year-old man was going south while the teenage motorist was going north.

The teenager attempted to avoid the collision by pursuing “evasive action.” However, the attempt did not work, and his vehicle went into the grassy median, rotated, and the 17-year-old crashed into a ditch, resulting in his automobile rolling over numerous times before he struck many stationary vehicles at a car dealership.

December 11, 2023

News: Hit-and-run crash in Tampa claims life of 86-year-old man

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

TAMPA, FL – An 86-year-old man walking his bicycle on U.S. Highway 41 passed away after he was struck by an SUV driver who fled the scene Saturday.

This collision happened before 6:45 p.m. south of Honeycrisp Court, according to ABC Action News. The man was pronounced dead at the scene.

Officials did not describe the suspect’s SUV or reveal their appearance.

October 25, 2023

News: Speeding hit-and-run driver fatally hits cyclist in East Tampa

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

EAST TAMPA, FL – A person was said to have driven at a high rate when they fatally struck a cyclist before fleeing the scene after 8:15 p.m. Tuesday.

FOX 13 News said this collision happened adjacent to East 21st Avenue and North 19th Avenue. Home security footage revealed that upon getting hit, the bicycle came up in the air, and the cyclist landed on top of his bike. The hit-and-run suspect was said to have driven a light blue, gray, or possibly silver sedan before fleeing away.

The cyclist succumbed to fatal injuries at the scene.