FHP investigates 1 bicycle, 2 pedestrian crashes in Citrus County, FL
Sept. 23, 2021
Three pedestrians struck by vehicle in Inverness hospitalized
A traffic crash that ocurred in Inverness, Florida, at 6:35 pm, Sept. 23, resulted in injuries to three pedestrians who were transported to area hospitals in undisclosed conditions. The driver of the vehicle was not transported for medical care. The crash occurred on E. Fortner Dr., about 200 feet east of S. Berlisa Pt.
According to the crash report by the Florida Highway Patrol, a 78 year-old Inverness man was driving a 2005 Kubota RTV900 utility vehicle, traveling west on E. Fortner Dr., approaching S. Berlisa Pt., and the three pedestrians, all from Inverness, were traveling west on E. Fortner Dr., approaching S. Berlisa Pt. A 49 year-old woman was walking ahead of the vehicle, with a 29 year-old woman walking to her right, who was pushing a small pink bicycle to her right side that carried a 2 year-old girl. The front of the utility vehicle struck all three pedestrians.
The 49 year-old woman and the 2 year-old girl were both transported to UF Shands Hospital in Gainesville, FL, the woman by AirLife EMS and the girl by ShandsCare, and the 29 year-old woman was transported by emergency medical services to Ocala Regional Medical Center in Ocala, FL,
The report stated that charges are pending for the driver. The report stated that he operated the vehicle in a careless or negligent manner by failing to use due care when approaching pedestrians in the roadway.
Sept. 24, 2021
Two pedestrians struck by car on US 19 in Homosassa, FL
Homosassa, Florida - Two pedestrians were struck by a vehicle, about 12:55 pm, Sept. 24, while walking on U. S. Hwy. 19 (S. Suncoast Blvd.) in Homosassa, FL.
According to a Florida Highway Patrol crash report, a 36 year-old Lecanto, FL man was driving a 2005 Honda Accord passenger car, traveling south on U.S. Hwy. 19 (S. Suncoast Blvd.) in the outside travel lane, about 1100 feet south of S. Oakridge Blvd.
The report stated that the driver observed activity occurring in the median at that location, so he looked to his left and allowed the car to drift to the right. It crossed the white (fog) line, and the front right of the vehicle struck two pedestrians who were walking south on the outside shoulder of the southbound lanes (walking with the traffic, or "wrong-way riding or walking" according to the crash report). The report also stated that the driver operated the vehicle in a careless or negligent manner.
When the FHP trooper arrived on the scene, the vehicle was at rest on the southbound shoulder of U.S. Hwy. 19, facing south, just south of the area of collision, and both pedestrians had already been loaded into ambulances for medical transport. The pedestrians were a 30 year old man and a 33 year-old woman, both of Beverly Hills, FL. Both were transported to Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point in Hudson, FL (the man via AirLife 4 and the woman via MedFleet).
Sept. 28, 2021
Bicyclist struck by motorcycle handlebar in Homosassa, FL killed
Homosassa, Florida - A woman riding a bicycle in Homosassa, FL, about 7:58 pm, Sept. 28, was struck by the handlebar of a motorcycle traveling behind her, that overtook her, and she suffered fatal injuries at the scene of the crash, according to a press release by the Florida Highway Patrol. The crash occurred on W. Homosassa Trail (County Road 490) at S. MacArthur Terrace. The report stated that the 45 year-old Homosassa woman riding the bicycle was not wearing a helmet, while the 55 year-old Crystal River, FL driver of the motorcycle was.