BRADENTON — An area resident was the driver of a car that traveled over a curb median and struck a bicyclist Tuesday night, killing the bicyclist.
According to a news release from Florida Highway Patrol, a 53-year-old Punta Gorda man was driving a sports utility vehicle northbound at 8:47 p.m. Tuesday night along U.S. 41/14th Street West near 33rd Avenue West in Bradenton.
A bicyclist was southbound on U.S. 41 at the same time.
“(The driver) traveled over a raised curb median, entered the southbound US 41 travel lanes and collided with (the pedestrian),” according to the FHP news release.
The SUV then struck a utility pole.
The bicyclist was not wearing a helmet at the time. The bicyclist was identified as a 33-year-old Bradenton man. He was pronounced dead at the scene, according to FHP.
A second pedestrian, walking south on an adjacent sidewalk, suffered minor injuries when he was struck by debris from the crash. That pedestrian, a 27-year-old Bradenton man, was transported to an area hospital for his injuries.