MADEIRA BEACH, Fla. – A Friday night crash has left a 72-year-old man dead and a Clearwater woman behind bars facing serious charges.
The Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office says the incident happened around 9:00 p.m. on January 23, 2026. According to investigators from the Major Accident Investigation Team, Michael Arndt was walking across the street near the intersection of 150th Avenue and Madeira Way. Deputies noted that Arndt was inside a marked crosswalk at the time.
While Arndt was crossing, a 2022 Jeep Wrangler driven by 51-year-old Vanessa Downs was heading east on 150th Avenue. Investigators say Downs struck Arndt while he was in the crosswalk, causing him to fall under the vehicle…