Pinellas County

December 5, 2024

News: Double jet ski crash in Clearwater Beach claims one life

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

CLEARWATER BEACH, FL – Two jet ski operators fell off their boats following a collision near Sand Key Beach, which ended claiming one of their lives Sunday.

This crash happened around 5 p.m. and immediately prompted a response from the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), the U.S. Coast Guard, and Clearwater Police, BayNews9 reports.

Emergency crews then hurried one of the captains to the local hospital, where they succumbed to fatal wounds, while the surviving operator was left without physical harm.

November 14, 2024

News: FDOT closes Indian Rocks Rd. in Largo due to crash

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

LARGO, FL – Florida Department of Transportation crews have shut down both north and southbound lanes of Indian Rocks Road south of West Bay Drive due to a crash.

Pinellas Traffic announced this collision and these closures at approximately 1:10 p.m.

Authorities who were called to the scene have not specified the number of people and vehicles involved, listed any sustained injuries, reports of hospitalizations, or disclosed the events that led to this wreck.

October 23, 2024

News: Over 40,000 Pinellas Co. homes impacted by Helene, Milton

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

PINELLAS COUNTY, FL – According to WFLA, 40,910 homes were either damaged or destroyed by hurricanes Helene and Milton.

Pinellas County authorities said 28,350 homes were damaged. To date, 16,803 homes have been significantly damaged, while 268 were completely totaled by Helene.

The number of homes that were completely destroyed by Milton doubles to 446, with damages numbered at 12,560. Recent data from the Pinellas County Damage Assessment report shows that 1,971 of those residential properties saw some significant wreckage.

October 18, 2024

News: Hurricane debris fire reported in St. Pete Beach

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

ST. PETE BEACH, FL – A mounting pile of hurricane debris caught on fire at a debris loading site in the area of Egan Park Tuesday night, WFLA reports.

It is unclear what exactly caused the fire, but a nearby resident, identified as Joan Welden, looked out the window and dialed 911 as fast as she could. Fire crews rushed to the scene and immediately extinguished the flames.

While no individuals were harmed in this incident, the growing pile of leftover debris from Hurricane and Milton does pose environmental concerns since pollutants are permitting, and thus also causing risk to residents’ homes and bodies, especially since many of the occupants are older and struggle with respiratory and cardiac disease.

September 5, 2024

News: Hit-and-run in Largo claims 56-year-old man’s life

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

LARGO, FL – A 56-year-old man crossing Roosevelt Boulevard lost his life after getting struck by two drivers, one of whom fled the scene Wednesday night.

The Largo Police Department believes the hit-and-run suspect, who was the first driver, was operating a dark-colored Mercury SUV or Ford when he struck the victim, according to WFLA.

The second motorist stayed at the scene.

August 15, 2024

News: Speed suspected in crash that killed motorcyclist in Clearwater

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

CLEARWATER, FL – Clearwater police suspect a motorcyclist, operated by a 19-year-old young man, was traveling at a high rate when he died after rear-ending a car last Friday.

The Tampa Bay Times said this collision happened around 11 p.m. on eastbound Courtney Campbell Causeway.

After first responders arrived at the scene, Clearwater Fire Rescue rushed the biker, later identified as Ramon Castro Jr., a Tampa resident, to Mease Countryside Hospital. There, Castro succumbed to fatal wounds.

May 16, 2024

News: Hit-and-run in Clearwater claims life of elderly scooter rider

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

CLEARWATER, FL – An 80-year-old man was taken to St. Joseph’s Hospital, where he later died on Wednesday after getting struck by a driver who fled the scene Monday.

This collision happened around 2:45 p.m. on Gulf-to-Bay Boulevard. ABC Action News said the pickup truck driver, 36-year-old Kris Paterson, was rushing to work when he ran over the scooter rider, later identified as Ernest Coluzzi.

Clearwater Police, who are in charge of this investigation, said that Paterson had allegedly driven less than half a mile when he stopped to remove the mobility scooter attached to either the front or back bumper of his truck. They arrested him and booked him into the Pinellas County Jail.

May 9, 2024

News: Male pedestrian critically hurt in Pinellas Park hit-and-run

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

PINELLAS PARK, FL – A man walking in the area of 66th Street North and 96th Avenue North was hit by a driver who left the scene, leaving him in critical condition Thursday.

WFLA said this collision happened around 4 a.m. The man, who was not named, was also listed in stable condition, police said.

Police have not provided an update with regard to the events leading to this crash or provided a description of the suspect or their vehicle.

May 6, 2024

News: 1 killed when speeding driver strikes semi in Clearwater

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

CLEARWATER, FL – Clearwater Police believe a pickup truck driver was speeding and impaired when he collided with a semi-truck, leading to his passenger’s death on Sunday.

WFLA said this collision happened before 1:45 a.m. on Gulf Boulevard. As the semi-truck driver put their truck in reserve to enter the Sheraton Sand Key Hotel driveway, that’s when the pickup truck driver hit the big rig and suddenly became trapped underneath.

Fire Rescue then extricated the driver and passenger from the pickup truck as it got trapped under the tractor-trailer.

April 26, 2024

News: 1 seriously hurt in water-related accident in Clearwater Beach

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

CLEARWATER BEACH, FL – One person sustained serious wounds in a water-related accident along Opal Sands Resort Friday, WFLA.

First responders rescued the person from the water around 7 p.m. and then took them to a hospital, where they are recovering.

Clearwater Police did not specify if this was a boat collision, a drowning-related incident, or some other accident. Any new developments that are confirmed will be included in an updated news article.