A Saturday afternoon motorcycle ride turned deadly for a 26-year-old motorcyclist from Pinellas Park. According to the Florida Highway Patrol, the fatal St. Petersburg motorcycle crash occurred on March 30, 2013, around 3:15 p.m. on the Howard Frankland Bridge.
This motorcycle accident involved several vehicles on the southbound lanes of Interstate 275. According to the accident report, motorcyclist Justin Mullins was traveling south on I-275 in the outside lane when he made an abrupt lane change and sideswiped a Toyota Camry. Upon impact he and his passenger were thrown from his 2007 Kawasaki motorcycle. He was then hit by an oncoming Chevy Silverado and unfortunately died from his injuries. His passenger Jessica Mullins was thrown to the outside shoulder and suffered minor injuries in this crash. She was transported to Bayfront Medical Center in St. Petersburg for medical care, where she has since been treated and released.
Jon Gaudino, 47, of St. Petersburg, the driver of the Toyota Camry involved in this wreck, and Chevy Silverado driver Jeffrey Petitt, 51, of Holmes Beach, did not report any injuries.
At some point, the motorcycle also hit a Toyota FJ Cruiser that was also traveling south. Its driver, Matthew McIntee, 45, of Chicago, and his passenger were also uninjured in this crash.
Following this four-vehicle accident, the two southbound lanes of Howard Frankland Bridge were closed for about three hours and traffic was delayed and congested.
Charges have not been filed as of yet, but police do not believe alcohol played a factor in this St. Petersburg crash.
Mallard Perez would like to extend our condolences to the family and friends of Justin Mullins, and we wish Jessica Mullins a full and fast recovery.
