Woman Killed In Bicycle-Scooter Crash In St. Petersburg

Scooters are often used by teens and young adults in Florida to get from place to place. While they can be a convenient form of transportation, scooter accidents happen often.

Operators of electric scooters are typically the ones injured or killed in crashes, but in a recent crash in Florida, the scooter operator killed a bicyclist. The operator has been arrested and charged with manslaughter.

The fatal accident happened at around noon on November 4 in St. Petersburg on 18th Avenue North, near 66th Street North. A 77-year-old woman was traveling westbound on her bicycle, while a 22-year-old man was operating an electric scooter and heading east. He was crossing the intersection when both the scooter and bicycle collided head-on.

The man did not attempt to swerve and get out of the woman’s way, despite having sufficient room in the intersection to do so. The man was not injured. The woman was hospitalized at Bayfront Health St. Petersburg with critical injuries, including a severe brain injury, multiple broken ribs, and a broken eye socket. She died four days later, on November 8.

After the woman’s death, police arrested the man for manslaughter via culpable negligence. He was placed in Pinellas County Jail.

The man claimed the crash was an accident, calling it “bad reflexes.” It is believed that the man was going as fast as 18 miles per hour and should have noticed the woman from about 80 feet away. That would have given him at least several seconds to react.

According to the arrest report, the woman had pulled to the curb to allow the man riding the scooter and another vehicle to pass. In this case, it would make sense that the scooter rider would want to be close to the curb as well.

However, the woman was a wrong-way driver in this case. When riding on the road, bicyclists typically have the same rights and responsibilities as motorists. She was riding against traffic, which is technically illegal. That fact could help the man’s case.

The man has regret for his role in the accident. He wishes he could have been the one who was injured. He is no longer riding his scooter. Since the crash, he takes the bus or walks from place to place.

In any case, questions remain. Could the man have prevented the accident by moving over? Did he have the duty to do so as a scooter rider?

Neither the man or woman were wearing a helmet at the time of the crash. The investigation is still ongoing. 

Contact Us Today 

Scooter accidents can result in serious injuries or death. Those who have been involved in these crashes need to ensure they seek compensation for their injuries and other damages.

The Florida scooter accident lawyers at Meldon Law can assist you in protecting your legal rights. We are experienced with scooter accident cases and can help you understand your options for financial recovery. Schedule a free consultation with us today. Fill out the online form or call (800) 373-8000. We have three offices to serve you: Gainesville, Ocala, and Fort Lauderdale.

Resource:

fox13news.com/news/st-pete-police-arrest-electric-scooter-rider-after-deadly-head-on-collision-with-elderly-bicyclist