Pinellas County

April 29, 2025

News: FWC ID’s victim who died in Clearwater boat crash

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

CLEARWATER, FL – As of Monday, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission has officially identified the victim whose life was claimed in a hit-and-run boat crash Sunday.

According to ABC Action News, the victim was identified as 41-year-old Jose Castro from Palm Harbor. To recap, the collision took place near the Memorial Causeway bridge. Details showed that a person operating a privately owned boat had rammed into a ferry and then fled the scene.

The fleeing boat driver, later identified as Jeffry Knight, then went to the Belleair Boat Ramp. The ferryboat operator was later identified as Dennis Kimerer.

April 28, 2025

News: 1 life claimed, 12 hospitalized after Clearwater hit-and-run boat crash

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

CLEARWATER, FL – One hit-and-run boat operator crashed into a ferry on Sunday near the Memorial Causeway Bridge, claiming one life and sending 12 people to a hospital.

WTSP said The U.S. Coast Guard, 10 ambulances, two medical helicopters, and Clearwater police hurried to the scene. For the injured individuals, two people were flown via the medical helicopter and the rest via ambulances.

Six people were on the hit-and-run boat, and 45 people were on the ferry. Authorities said the hit-and-run suspect has been identified but have made no mention of any criminal charges.

April 2, 2025

News: Truck fatally hits elderly man in wheelchair in Pinellas Park

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

PINELLAS PARK, FL – A 73-year-old man in a wheelchair lost his life after he was hit by a Nissan Titan pickup truck on Monday, IONTB reports.

The elderly man, Jeffrey Young, was crossing the intersection of 66th Street North and 78th Avenue North when he was struck by the pickup truck driver, a 38-year-old man. Pinellas Park police confirmed that the driver came into the intersection on a green light while Young was crossing when he did not have the right of way.

EMS crews rushed Young to a hospital, where he later died. The driver and his passengers, a 32-year-old man and a 38-year-old woman, locals, appeared to have been uninjured.

March 25, 2025

News: Medical episode leads to Largo crash that sends 6 to hospital

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

LARGO, FL – A driver suffered a medical episode, which led to a three-vehicle wreck that sent five adults and one child to a hospital Monday.

ABC Action News said the collision happened on East Bay Drive. After arriving, medical helicopter personnel airlifted the child, and ambulance crews took the adults to nearby hospitals. All occupants are recovering from non-life-threatening injuries.

Largo police confirmed that intoxication did not play a role in the crash.

March 7, 2025

News: 1 dead, 2 injured following Palm Harbor wrong-way wreck

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

PALM HARBOR, FL – A wrong-way collision near Sutherland Elementary School last Saturday claimed the life of one man and injured two other people, WTSP reports.

Florida Highway Patrol said the crash took place before 8:45 p.m. while, for reasons not immediately clear, a 68-year-old Tarpon Springs man was driving a Toyota Tacoma south on northbound Belcher Road. At one point, the wrong-way Tacoma collided with a Cadillac DTS and then a Mazda Protege 5.

EMS crews took all drivers to a hospital, where the 68-year-old man died.

March 4, 2025

News: Woman, 85, loses life after Clearwater solo wreck

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

CLEARWATER, FL – An 85-year-old woman has died after crashing her Cadillac STS into a bridge pillar last Tuesday, February 25.

The single-vehicle collision happened after 1 p.m. on U.S. 19, near Bellair Road, according to IONTB.

Officials say the woman struck a curb, which caused her tires to default. The Cadillac STS went on to hit a median before slamming into the bridge pillar.

February 14, 2025

News: Cyclist hit by driver in Clearwater, sent to hospital

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

CLEARWATER, FL – A cyclist was rushed to Orlando Health Bayfront Hospital after getting struck by an on-coming vehicle along Skycrest Park Friday.

The collision occurred after 6:30 p.m. at the intersection of Kenne Road and Cleveland Street, Fox13News reports.

First responders said the cyclist was left with potentially serious life-threatening injuries.

February 6, 2025

News: Male cyclist fatally hit by vehicle in Clearwater

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

CLEARWATER, FL – A male cyclist was taken to Morton Plant Hospital, where he passed away after getting hit by a vehicle Wednesday.

The collision occurred at the intersection of Drew Street and Main Avenue before 11:30 a.m., according to FOX 13 News. Crews shut down the area for a large portion of the day before later reopening all lanes.

Clearwater police launched an investigation. At this time, they have not disclosed the events leading to the crash, released the victim’s name, or confirmed any charges or citations. Updates will be added as our newsroom learns more.

January 16, 2025

News: Man, 69, fatally hit by 2 cars along St. Pete Int. Airport

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

CLEARWATER, FL – A 69-year-old man walking on Ulmerton Road was killed when he was hit by two cars near the St. Petersburg International Airport last Saturday.

The Patch said this collision took place before 3 a.m. on the eastbound lanes. Florida Highway Patrol said the man was first run over by a Honda Odyssey and then a Nissan Sentra.

Troopers identified the Honda driver as a 36-year-old man, a Clearwater local, and the Nissan motorist as a 39-year-old man from Cutler Bay. At this time, they did not say if either driver yielded to the pedestrian or would be charged for their involvement in this crash.

December 5, 2024

News: Double jet ski crash in Clearwater Beach claims one life

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

CLEARWATER BEACH, FL – Two jet ski operators fell off their boats following a collision near Sand Key Beach, which ended claiming one of their lives Sunday.

This crash happened around 5 p.m. and immediately prompted a response from the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), the U.S. Coast Guard, and Clearwater Police, BayNews9 reports.

Emergency crews then hurried one of the captains to the local hospital, where they succumbed to fatal wounds, while the surviving operator was left without physical harm.