A man on a scooter was killed early Tuesday by a car that had run a red light in Clearwater.
According to Clearwater Police, the crash occurred at 1:45 a.m. at the intersection of Belcher Road and Gulf-to-Bay Boulevard.
Police believe the 55-year-old Palm Harbor man was on a scooter traveling northbound on Belcher Road when he was struck by a westbound 2006 Chrysler Sebring that ran the red light on Gulf-to-Bay.
The impact of the collision pushed the scooter into the side of a 1995 Lincoln Town Car that was also heading north on Belcher.
The scooter driver died at Bayfront Health St. Petersburg.
Police have identified the driver of the car that ran the red light and believe the driver showed signs of impairment.
The driver was arrested and booked into the Pinellas County Jail on charges of driving with a suspended or revoked license in an accident involving death or serious bodily injury.
The driver of the Town Car suffered minor injuries.
Due to the increased use of mopeds and scooters, we have seen many more accidents, crashes, injuries and even fatalities. Lots of Floridians opt to travel by moped or scooter because of the pretty much warm year-round climate, which makes sense as these vehicles have much better gas mileage compared to cars, truck and SUVs.
A recent Florida study found the following to be common factors in scooter accidents resulting in serious injuries and wrongful death: lack of a helmet, the speed of the moped or scooter, the speed limit in the area of the accident, and the amount of traffic in the area.
Scooter and moped drivers must be extremely cautious on the roadways. It is always best to wear a helmet and avoid driving in high traffic areas.
If you or a loved one has been injured or killed in a scooter accident, call our Florida Injury Lawyers at Whittel & Melton at 727-823-0000 any time for a free consultation to discuss your rights. There is never a fee for this consultation, and we welcome you to fill out our online form.