Pinellas County

May 16, 2024

News: Hit-and-run in Clearwater claims life of elderly scooter rider

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

CLEARWATER, FL – An 80-year-old man was taken to St. Joseph’s Hospital, where he later died on Wednesday after getting struck by a driver who fled the scene Monday.

This collision happened around 2:45 p.m. on Gulf-to-Bay Boulevard. ABC Action News said the pickup truck driver, 36-year-old Kris Paterson, was rushing to work when he ran over the scooter rider, later identified as Ernest Coluzzi.

Clearwater Police, who are in charge of this investigation, said that Paterson had allegedly driven less than half a mile when he stopped to remove the mobility scooter attached to either the front or back bumper of his truck. They arrested him and booked him into the Pinellas County Jail.

May 9, 2024

News: Male pedestrian critically hurt in Pinellas Park hit-and-run

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

PINELLAS PARK, FL – A man walking in the area of 66th Street North and 96th Avenue North was hit by a driver who left the scene, leaving him in critical condition Thursday.

WFLA said this collision happened around 4 a.m. The man, who was not named, was also listed in stable condition, police said.

Police have not provided an update with regard to the events leading to this crash or provided a description of the suspect or their vehicle.

May 6, 2024

News: 1 killed when speeding driver strikes semi in Clearwater

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

CLEARWATER, FL – Clearwater Police believe a pickup truck driver was speeding and impaired when he collided with a semi-truck, leading to his passenger’s death on Sunday.

WFLA said this collision happened before 1:45 a.m. on Gulf Boulevard. As the semi-truck driver put their truck in reserve to enter the Sheraton Sand Key Hotel driveway, that’s when the pickup truck driver hit the big rig and suddenly became trapped underneath.

Fire Rescue then extricated the driver and passenger from the pickup truck as it got trapped under the tractor-trailer.

April 26, 2024

News: 1 seriously hurt in water-related accident in Clearwater Beach

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

CLEARWATER BEACH, FL – One person sustained serious wounds in a water-related accident along Opal Sands Resort Friday, WFLA.

First responders rescued the person from the water around 7 p.m. and then took them to a hospital, where they are recovering.

Clearwater Police did not specify if this was a boat collision, a drowning-related incident, or some other accident. Any new developments that are confirmed will be included in an updated news article.

April 25, 2024

News: Driver fatally hits female cyclist in Tarpon Springs

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

TARPON SPRINGS, FL – A 63-year-old man driving a Jaguar SUV struck a 75-year-old woman riding a bicycle, leading the cyclist to die from her injuries Tuesday.

According to FOX 13 News, the cyclist was pursuing a left turn on Bryan Lane, along Cypress Lakes Boulevard, in front of the driver. As a result, the car made contact with the bicycle, and the woman fell off.

The woman succumbed to fatal wounds at the scene, Florida Highway Patrol said. At this time, troopers did not mention any pending citations or charges filed against the driver from Palm Harbor or revealed if he sustained injuries.

April 10, 2024

News: Woman, 75, in critical condition after Clearwater hit-and-run

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

CLEARWATER, FL – A 75-year-old woman was left with critical, life-threatening injuries after she was struck by a driver of a dark-colored SUV who fled the scene Tuesday.

WFLA said this collision happened before 8:45 p.m. in the 1800 block of Gulf-to-Bay Boulevard along Rumba Island Bar & Grill. Upon arrival, an ambulance took the woman to a local hospital, where she is recovering.

Clearwater Police started an investigation but do not have additional details at this time. They advise who has any information on this collision, or the suspect is urged to contact the department at the phone number listed in the initial source.

March 19, 2024

News: Jet ski operator fatally hits sandbar in Pinellas Co.

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

PINELLAS COUNTY, FL – A 60-year-old man was thrown from his Sea-Doo personal watercraft and died after he crashed into a sandbar Saturday.

This jet ski collision happened near Caladesi Island near the Dunedin Causeway, according to ABC Action News. First responders took the man — Gary Nolan — to a hospital for treatment of face lacerations, where he was later declared deceased.

The Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office started an investigation and confirmed that impairment did not play a role in this crash.

February 27, 2024

News: U-turn leads to Oldsmar crash that claims motorcyclist’s life

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

OLDSMAR, FL – A 73-year-old man tried to make a U-turn at a junction and collided with a motorcycle, leading the motorcyclist to die from his wounds Sunday.

This collision occurred after 9:30 a.m. at the Tampa Road and Oak Leaf Boulevard intersection, according to WFLA. Authorities said the 73-year-old drove west on Tampa while the motorcyclist, who operated a 2012 Kawasaki Ninja motorcycle, traveled east. The bike was right in front of the 2006 gold Cadillac, leading them to collide.

First responders took the motorcyclist to a hospital, where he died. The Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office only identified him as a 20-year-old man and has not released his name at this time.

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 22, 2024

News: Largo man loses life in Pinellas Park auto-pedestrian crash

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

PINELLAS PARK, FL – A 66-year-old man from Largo walked along a marked crosswalk and was hit by a sedan, leading to his death Tuesday.

This crash occurred around 9 p.m. at the Park Boulevard and 76th Street North junction, WTSP reported.

The driver remained at the scene, and officials confirmed they believed the motorist was not impaired or speeding at the time of the collision.