A Sunday bike ride on Siesta Key ended in tragedy when a bicyclist was struck and killed by a pickup truck turning into a beach access, authorities said.
The crash happened early Sunday afternoon on Beach Road near Beach Access 9. Officials said the collision occurred around 1:20 to 1:30 p.m. The rider was taken from the scene to a hospital, where they were later pronounced dead. Florida Highway Patrol troopers handled the primary investigation at the site, with Sarasota County Sheriff’s deputies assisting with traffic and scene control.
Where It Happened
The crash was reported at about 1:22 p.m. near 514 Beach Road, by the entrance to Beach Access No. 9, and led to temporary road closures while investigators documented the scene, according to WWSB. Deputies helped Florida Highway Patrol troopers as emergency crews responded in the Plaza de las Palmas area on Siesta Key. Officials at the scene did not release the bicyclist’s name or any identifying details.
What State Troopers Say
A Florida Highway Patrol news release, reported by Patch, stated that a pickup driven by a 36-year-old Sarasota man was turning into Beach Access No. 9 when it struck a 65-year-old bicyclist who was riding in the designated bike lane. The bicyclist suffered critical injuries, was transported to a hospital and later died. The driver of the truck was not injured. Troopers said the crash remains under investigation.
Local Context And Safety Concerns
Beach Road is a narrow and heavily traveled strip, with multiple public access points that send a steady mix of pedestrians, cyclists and vehicles toward the shoreline, according to local guides that catalog the island’s access points. Previous serious crashes on Siesta Key have underscored those risks, including a 2025 incident in which a bicyclist was killed after being struck by a Siesta Key trolley, as reported by local outlets and legal reporting platforms…