Driver Sought in Hit-and-Run Involving Cyclist
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St. Petersburg, FL (11/15/2019) – Police released a video of a cyclist hit by a driver who then fled the scene on November 1st. The crash happened at the crossing of 49th Street on Pinellas Trail.
In the video, we can see the cyclist throw his arms in the air in anger as drivers do not yield. The cyclist gets hit by a Chrysler 200 and proceeds to flee the scene.
The video shows that the cyclist did not stop at the crossing sign, but the crosswalk is marked, and there are flashing yield lights that turn on when pedestrians or bicyclists are present. It is unclear if the lights were going at the time of the collision.
Regardless, since the driver fled the scene, they could face serious consequences. The victim, Steven Weldon, suffered broken bones, but the injuries were not considered life-threatening.
Reportedly, the driver stopped to move the bicycle out of the road but then got back in their car and drove away. People are asked to call St. Petersburg police, 727-893-7780 if they have any information.
Updated: 11/20/2019
After this collision went public people started asking who was in the wrong. Many people believed that the bicyclist was obligated to stop at the stop sign in the crossing. However, in the video released by police, it is clear that two other pedestrians stopped, pushed the yield button, and crossed. Mr. Weldon is not at fault even though he could have exercised more caution. Police are still searching for the driver.
Our hearts go out to all of those impacted by this tragedy. Pedestrian hit-and-runs like this one occur far too often in Florida. It’s essential that pedestrian hit-and-runs be thoroughly investigated so that the cause of the collision can be understood, and the responsible party can be identified and, if warranted, held accountable.
Abrahamson & Uiterwyk is committed to advocating for individuals and families impacted by serious and even fatal accidents, including pedestrian accidents. Here on our accident news blog, we report on stories that involve personal injuries because these are the stories we tell on behalf of our clients every day. If you or a loved one has been impacted by a personal injury accident, we invite you to contact our firm anytime to discuss your case with an experienced attorney.
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Sources: My Suncoast, ABC Action News, WFLA