A pair of people from Bradenton were injured in a crash involving multiple vehicles on the night of Sunday, August 4, on the Howard Franklin Bridge in St. Petersburg.
According to the crash report released by the Florida Highway Patrol, a 32-year-old woman from Bradenton who had a 67-year-old male passenger ran out of gas while on the northbound section of Interstate 275 at approximately 7:40 p.m. and pulled over to the shoulder. A Road Ranger arrived to the scene to provide aid to the pair, and parked right behind them.
Meanwhile, a semi-truck and another vehicle with a male driver and male passenger were heading north. When the semi suddenly shifted lanes into the path of the latter vehicle, the driver was forced to swerve off the highway, where he then collided with the back of the Road Ranger. The Road Ranger, in turn, was pushed forward and crashed into the vehicle occupied by the Bradenton pair that ran out of gas. The collision resulted in both vehicles bursting into flames.
The semi-truck driver did not remain at the scene, and police are treating the accident as a hit-and-run. The woman in the vehicle sustained minor injuries, and the 67-year-old passenger sustained serious injuries.
Stay at the scene of an accident
In this particular case, the driver of the semi-truck failed in a couple responsibilities they have as a driver: checking to make sure the way is clear before changing lanes, and staying behind at the scene of an accident. A failure to remain behind at an accident site is a crime, and that crime can elevate to felony status if there are injuries or fatalities.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a crash caused by a negligent driver who then left the scene of the accident, meet with a trusted Bradenton personal injury lawyer at Goldman, Babboni, Fernandez & Walsh.