Executive Summary
- Fatal Incident: A 16-year-old motorcycle passenger died in a collision at State Road 70 and Caruso Road.
- Injuries: The 17-year-old motorcycle driver was hospitalized; the sedan driver was uninjured.
- Preliminary Findings: Florida Highway Patrol investigators indicated the motorcycle driver appears to be at fault.
A collision between a motorcycle and a sedan in Manatee County early Monday resulted in the death of a 16-year-old passenger and injuries to the 17-year-old operator, according to the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP).
The incident occurred shortly before 3:30 a.m. at the intersection of State Road 70 and Caruso Road. FHP investigators reported that the two teenagers were traveling east on State Road 70 approaching a steady red light. Simultaneously, a 52-year-old driver operating a sedan was traveling westbound on State Road 70 and was in the process of executing a left turn onto Caruso Road when the collision took place.
Emergency responders confirmed that the 16-year-old passenger succumbed to injuries sustained in the crash. The 17-year-old motorcycle driver was transported to a local hospital for treatment. According to the crash report filed by Florida State Trooper Mario Araujo and Homicide Investigator Corporal Matthew Sill, the driver of the motorcycle appears to be at fault regarding the accident dynamics.
Investigative Outlook
The preliminary attribution of fault by the Florida Highway Patrol signals the beginning of a comprehensive homicide investigation, standard in traffic incidents resulting in fatalities. Investigators will likely utilize crash reconstruction data to verify the status of the traffic signals and the speed of the vehicles involved to confirm the sequence of events. While the initial report suggests the motorcycle operator failed to yield or adhere to the signal, final determinations regarding potential traffic citations or legal proceedings will depend on the conclusive findings of the traffic homicide report.
