From Friday through Tuesday, July 20–July 24, 2012, three motorcycle crashes occurred in Sarasota County, claiming the lives of two people and seriously injuring a third person.
The first accident took place on Friday, July 20, shortly after 10 p.m. on South Tamiami Trail near Morris Street. Police indicated that a 69-year-old man was heading south on a Harley Davidson motorcycle when he collided with a Volkswagen. According to the report, the Volkswagen was traveling north, and both vehicles were in the center turn lane when the collision occurred.
The unidentified driver of the motorcycle, who did not have a helmet on when the crash took place, was seriously injured and was taken by helicopter to Blake Medical Center in Bradenton.
The second accident occurred in Sarasota just a few hours later, at about 2:30 a.m. The motorcyclist in this crash, 39-year-old John Zito, of Sarasota, was pronounced dead at the scene. Zito, who was not wearing a helmet either, was traveling south on US 41 at a high rate of speed when his bike crashed into the rear of a white SUV that was southbound as well. The wreck occurred near the Waldemere Street intersection on US 41.
The third accident took place on Tuesday, July 24, just before 6 p.m. In that accident, 62-year-old Peter Murray was driving a 2004 Honda motorcycle east on 17th Street when he collided with a westbound Kia Sportage that was attempting to turn left onto Tuttle Avenue from 17th Street. According to the Florida Highway Patrol, both Murray and the 90-year-old Sarasota man who was driving the Kia, Cesar Etayo, were taken to Sarasota Memorial Hospital, where Murray later died. Etayo was treated for minor injuries and released.
The Sarasota motorcycle crash lawyers at Mallard Perez extend their condolences to the families and friends of the two men who were killed in these accidents and wish those who were injured a full and fast recovery.