ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. – A bicyclist struck by a vehicle in St. Augustine Monday evening has died, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
The FHP report said the accident happened around 6:30 p.m. on State Road 312, near U.S. 1.
Recommended Videos
The bicyclist, a 58-year-old man, was flown by an air ambulance to UF Health in Jacksonville with life-threatening injuries and later died at the hospital.
The driver, 82-year-old Jack Sawinski, and his passenger, Joan Sawinski, suffered minor injuries from the crash.
The bicyclist, whose name has not been released, was traveling southeast across the eastbound travel lanes of State Road 312 when he was hit by Sawinski's Lincoln Town Car. The bicyclist flew off the bike and hit the windshield and hood of the car before landing in the roadway, the FHP report said.
The Sawinskis stopped at the scene, FHP said.
"More so than ever we need to remember to give each other space and just to be a little more human," said Heather Neville, president of the Velofest Community Initiative. "We all make mistakes, accidents happen, but most of it is avoidable."
Neville's group, based out of St. Johns County, is dedicated to educating and building the relationship between cyclists and the community.
While troopers have drawn no connection between Monday's deadly accident and daylight saving time, Neville said it's something drivers and cyclists have to be very aware of.
"It's for everybody," Neville said. "It's a little shock to their system. So the sun's going down and it's only 5 o'clock, but that doesn't change people's transportation needs and what time they are commuting."
Neville believes preventing a crash like this takes cooperation on both sides.
Cyclists are required to wear lights, but Neville said sometimes financial issues can make that hard.
That's why drivers have to be extremely alert.
"As motorists we need to be more aware that bicycles and pedestrians are out there and we need to be more cautious and get off the phone and slow down," Neville said.
According to records, Jack Sawinski, who lives in St. Augustine, had nothing on his driving record in the 10-plus years since getting a Florida driver's license.
FHP said he has been cooperating with their investigation, and they are working to determine whether or not charges will be filed.