On Sunday, November 20, 2011, at approximately 10:00 p.m., 40 year old James G. Fehl of Seminole, Florida, was travelling along Bay Pines Boulevard in St. Petersburg when he was involved in a fatal collision with another vehicle. He was driving his 1987 Honda motorcycle at the time of the crash. The other driver, Shane Ross of Kenneth City, Florida, was driving a Pontiac Sunfire and was exiting a Bay Pines Boulevard shopping center parking lot. Mr. Ross was heading east on his way home from work; Mr. Fehl was also heading east.
According to officials who continue to investigate the accident, Mr. Fehl’s motorcycle struck Mr. Ross’s automobile, and Mr. Fehl was thrown from his motorcycle. He was not wearing a motorcycle helmet at the time of the crash. Witnesses to the accident rushed to his side and administered CPR as they waited for paramedics to arrive. An ambulance transported Mr. Fehl to Bayfront Medical Center in St. Petersburg with life-threatening injuries. Sadly, he was pronounced dead at 1:21 a.m. on Wednesday, November 30, 2011.
In addition to being a veteran firefighter and emergency medical technician with the Pinellas Suncoast Fire & Rescue District, Mr. Fehl also aided in disaster relief efforts during emergencies, including Hurricane Andrew in 1992. Further, Mr. Fehl fought fires with the U.S. Department of Forestry and was a certified smoke diver with Florida State Fire College.
Our deepest sympathies and condolences go out to Mr. Fehl’s his loved ones following this tragic accident.
