A 59-year-old person from Ocala died in Marion County this past Saturday after they were involved in a crash. Troopers with the Florida Highway Patrol reported that the individual was walking his bike along the inside of the southern lane of U.S. 441 close to 11:00 at night when the pedestrian accident took place.
A 2009 Mazda was driving down the southern lane of U.S. 441 at the same time as the 59-year-old was pushing their bike. It is not clear why, but the driver of the Mazda apparently failed to see the pedestrian in the road and collided with them before they were able to escape from the path of the vehicle. As a result of the collision, the pedestrian was thrown from the shoulder into the median of U.S. 441.
It is not clear who called the emergency services, but teams of first responders rushed to the scene shortly after the collision took place and began to tend to the badly injured cyclist. It is not known if this person was alive at the time when the emergency response crews reached the area, but we do know that they were declared dead at the scene of the accident.
At the time of this writing, it is believed that there are charges currently pending against the driver of the Mazda. No information currently exists however on whether or not the investigators found any evidence of substance abuse or speeding to point to just why the Mazda’s driver failed to avoid striking the pedestrian. If nothing was chemically impairing their driving, it is possible that the person behind the wheel of the Mazda was distracted in the moments before the collision. It is also possible that some sort of adverse road condition caused the driver to momentarily take their eyes from directly in front of them.
It is not believed that the driver of the Mazda suffered any injuries as a result of the collision. It is not known whether or not the charges filed come from the police or if they are charges independently filed by the family of the deceased individual.
Sources:
James O. Cunningham
Since 1977, personal injury lawyer James Cunningham has provided effective legal advocacy to people who are injured through the negligent actions of another person or entity throughout the Central Florida area. He fights to obtain recoveries for his clients’ physical and emotional pain and suffering and pursues his clients’ personal injury cases with a commitment to excellence and impeccable preparation.
If you or someone you love has been injured in a vehicle accident, call toll-free at 1-888-FLA-Auto (1-888-352-2886).
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