MANATEE COUNTY, Fla. (SNN) — A Bradenton pedestrian has died after he was struck by a vehicle and went through the windshield of a bus on Friday, authorities said.
A 21-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of causing the chain reaction crash, which happened at the intersection of State Road 70 and US 41. Troopers say he was driving with a suspended license.
“The Manatee County Sheriff’s office attempted a traffic stop on a vehicle. That vehicle fled from the deputies,” said State Trooper Kenn Watson. “Unfortunately, that vehicle violated the right of way of another vehicle, causing a crash, which then sent that vehicle into a pedestrian, sending the pedestrian through the front windshield of a commuter bus.”
The Florida Highway Patrol says the 21-year-old fled the scene on foot, but was arrested and booked into the Manatee County Jail.
A 24-year-old woman and two children, ages 8 and 3 years old, were in the other vehicle that was hit.
The crash occurred right in front of a Dunkin’ Donuts. Worker Gabriel Gonzalez said he witnessed the whole thing.
“When I saw her car totaled, that’s when I went outside and helped her get her children out of the car and her little dog and all that and it was pretty scary to see how the car looked as well as seeing the children. They were a little bit shaken up. One of her daughters had a little bit of blood from the mouth, you know, it was a very scary sight to see,” said Gonzalez.
Troopers said the pedestrian, a 60-year-old homeless man, had been standing on the raised median divider. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
According to FHP, there were a handful of people on the bus at the time.
“Unfortunately, those people saw something that no one should have to. I mean they actually saw a human being fly through their windshield and unfortunately that person did not survive,” Watson added.
Troopers say the 21-year-old is facing charges for leaving the scene of a crash involving death, vehicular homicide, and driving without a license.
This is an ongoing investigation.
