Madeira Beach — Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office Deputies assigned to the Major Accident Investigation Team are investigating a fatal vehicle crash involving a pedestrian that occurred Friday night in Madeira Beach.
According to investigators, the crash happened on January 23, 2026, at approximately 9:01 p.m. A 72-year-old man, identified as Michael Arndt, was walking in a marked crosswalk near the intersection of 150th Avenue and Madeira Way. At the same time, a 51-year-old woman, identified as Vanessa Downs of Clearwater, was driving eastbound on 150th Avenue in the median lane in a 2022 Jeep Wrangler.
Investigators said Downs struck Arndt while he was in the crosswalk, causing him to fall underneath the vehicle.
Arndt was transported to a hospital, where he was pronounced deceased…