Man Fleeing Vehicle Burglary Struck and Killed on Ulmerton Road
According to the Pinelllas County Sheriff’s Office, at about 11:30 p.m. on July 22, 2017, Corporal Chris Platt was on patrol when he observed a man lying in the eastbound lanes of Ulmerton Rd. just east of 62nd Street.
The subject, 55-year old Donald Sands, was unconscious and had clearly been struck by a vehicle. Corporal Platt initially rendered aid and called for fire rescue to respond.
Upon fire rescue arrival, Sands was pronounced deceased at the scene.
The driver of that vehicle 36-year-old Chad Mclaughlin was driving a 2017 Cadillac CTS. Deputies say he made a U-turn on Ulmerton Road after hitting something. He returned to the scene and made contact with deputies.
There was substantial damage to the passenger side of his 2017 Cadillac CTS vehicle.
Deputies say while waiting for the Florida Highway Patrol to respond to investigate the crash in the unincorporated area, deputies learned that Sands had just committed a vehicle burglary in the Leisure World Mobile Home Park at 6100 138th Avenue Clearwater.
The victim of that burglary, 42-year-old Shelby Slocumb, who lives in the Leisure World Mobile Home Park reported to deputies he saw Sands earlier inside of his personal vehicle a 2001 GMC Yukon.
Slocumb reported to deputies he initially gave chase to Sands on foot and lost sight of him near the entrance of the mobile home park.
Slocumb returned to his residence and retrieved his vehicle and made contact with deputies who now were on the scene of the crash.
Slocumb told deputies he was unaware of the crash. Sands matched the exact description provided by Slocumb and was in possession of a red cup that had change stolen from the victim’s car.