Sarasota County

December 13, 2024

News: Vehicle overturns, cooking oil spills on I-75 after truck crash

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

SARASOTA, FL – A semi-truck collided with another vehicle on I-75, causing the other automobile to overturn on its side and cooking oil from the truck to spill on the road Friday.

ABC Action News said the impact of this wreck, which occurred north of Fruitville Road, also caused the semi-truck to jackknife and prompted crews to shut down the majority of northbound lanes, except for one to accommodate the scene clearance procedure.

Officials have not yet confirmed the exact cause of this collision, but a significant number of debris was left over from the crash. At this time, no reopening of lanes has been announced, nor reports of injuries or hospitalizations.

December 3, 2024

News: 2 killed in fiery collision in Venice

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

VENICE, FL – A driver and passenger succumbed to fatal wounds after their vehicle caught on fire after crossing SR-777 South and hitting another vehicle on River Road North Tuesday.

Once the vehicles made contact, the struck automobile then overturned, and that driver suffered serious injuries, ABC Action News reports. Immediately following the crash, the surviving motorist was rushed to a nearby hospital.

The Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office and the Florida Highway Patrol were summoned to the scene, although FHP will be taking the lead on this investigation.

October 21, 2024

News: Helene, Milton cause $884 million in damages in Sarasota, Manatee Counties

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

SARASOTA AND MANATEE COUNTY, FL – Sarasota and Manatee County officials estimate that Hurricane Helene and Milton caused around $884 million in structural damages.

Sarasota County authorities told the Herald-Turbine they speculate that the aftermath of Helene led to $337.7 million in damages, with Milton racking up $306 million in damages, tallying up a total of nearly $634 million. Manatee County officials said they believe that damages from Milton resulted in over $250 million but did not specify if that included Helene as well. The only cities within Manatee County that don’t currently have damage report numbers are Bradenton, Palmetto, and the three cities on Anna Maria Island: Anna Maria, Bradenton Beach, and Holmes Beach.

Both counties, however, are not off the hook yet. All counties in the state of Florida, which include Manatee and Sarasota counties, are expected to see “between $17 billion and $28 billion” in wind and flood losses from Milton, and uninsured property losses are anticipated to only increase “between $21 billion and $34 billion,” according to data from CoreLogic.

October 4, 2024

News: Two vehicles collide in North Port, claiming one life

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

NORTH PORT, FL – At least one person lost their life in a two-vehicle crash on I-75 near River Road Monday, YourSun reports.

Florida Highway Patrol shut down I-75 South between Jacaranda Boulevard and River Road for their investigation and for the crews’ scene clearance process.

FHP has not stated the age and gender of the deceased person nor disclosed the events that led to this crash.

October 3, 2024

News: Driver fatally hits 27-year-old man changing tire in Venice

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

VENICE, FL – A 27-year-old man was changing a tire on his Kia vehicle, went into on-coming I-75 Traffic, and got hit by a Toyota Corolla, leading to his death Monday.

This incident happened before 4:45 a.m. near River Road, according to ABC Action News. The 27-year-old man passed away at the scene, while the Toyota driver, a 21-year-old man, was spared from injuries.

Florida Highway Patrol responded to this scene and has not shared other details.

September 9, 2024

News: Passenger, driver killed in 2-auto wreck in Venice

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

VENICE, FL – A driver and their passenger lost their lives after colliding with another vehicle during a green light at U.S. 41 and Seminole Drive Sunday.

Florida Highway Patrol told WTSP that the events unfolded when one driver was going east on Seminole approaching U.S. 41, and the other driver was going north in an “outside lane” on U.S. 41 when both vehicles collided.

FHP said the northbound car had struck a traffic control cabinet, sign, and control mast as a result. The northbound driver and passenger succumbed to fatal wounds, while another passenger was hospitalized for serious wounds.

July 15, 2024

News: Woman on bicycle fatally hit by deputy vehicle in Osprey

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

SARASOTA COUNTY, FL – A woman died late last Thursday, July 11, after being struck by a Sarasota County Sheriff’s deputy vehicle while riding a bike in Osprey, reports FOX 13 Tampa Bay.

The fatal incident unfolded at the intersection of U.S. Route 41 and Bay Street, at about 11:40 p.m.

According to a preliminary investigation conducted by the Florida Highway Patrol, the victim was riding a bicycle home from work when she began crossing the street on a red light. FHP officials say witnesses noted seeing the cyclist violate the right of way as she entered the path of a department vehicle driven by a 25-year-old deputy who was responding to a call and who was traveling on a green light.

June 3, 2024

News: Sarasota Co. deputies respond to I-75 semi, trash truck wreck

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

SARASOTA COUNTY, FL – Sarasota County deputies were called to a collision between a semi-truck and a trash truck on I-75 North at mile marker 194 Friday.

FOX 13 News said first responders left one lane open to accommodate the flow of traffic while still leaving several lanes closed to accommodate the scene clearance process.

It is not immediately clear if anyone was injured or what exactly led to this crash.

May 17, 2024

News: Man, 22, loses life in crash after missing curve in Englewood

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

ENGLEWOOD, FL – A 22-year-old man lost his life after striking a tree with his car because he failed to negotiate a curve on Manasota Key Road South Thursday.

NBC-2 said this collision happened after 10 p.m. After the man hit the tree, his vehicle overturned and then caught on fire. In addition, the trailer had unattached itself from his automobile.

Florida Highway Patrol, who responded to the collision site, pronounced the man dead at the scene. Troopers began an investigation and have not released additional information at this time.

February 29, 2024

News: 1 life claimed in South Venice motorcycle crash

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

SOUTH VENICE, FL – One person lost their life in a motorcycle crash that happened in the area of the Englewood Road and Adams Road intersection Wednesday.

The Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office and Florida Highway Patrol told FOX13 News that they shut down two north and southbound lanes on Englewood Road and only left one lane open in both directions to pursue the scene clearance process and for their investigation.

No additional details, including the motorcyclist’s name, have been released. More information will be posted as they become available.