92 Year-old Pedestrian Killed In Hit-and Run Crash in Madeira Beach
Posted: March 7, 2015 – 8 AM
Units from Madeira Beach Fire Department, Seminole Fire Rescue Department, Sunstar Paramedics and Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to respond to a traffic crash at about 7:19 PM on Friday, March 6, 2015. Arriving units arrived to find a deceased pedestrian in the roadway.
The pedestrian has been identified as 92 year-old Vaclav Duda of Madeira Beach. In a press release nearly 7 hours after the crash, the Pinellas County Sheriff’ Office Public Information Officer, Cristen Smith, released details of the incident. According to deputies, the pedestrian was crossing 150th Avenue, North to South, pushing a shopping cart, when he was struck by a gray 4-door sedan. Duda was reportedly not in a crosswalk and was crossing mid-block at the time of the crash.
The driver of the sedan exited the vehicle, looked at the victim, got back in the vehicle and left the scene. With evidence found at the scene, deputies were able to determine the vehicle was a gray Mercedes.
Approximately 2 hours after the crash occurred, a witness reported seeing a suspicious vehicle in the parking lot of the Bay Pines Walmart store, located at 10237 Bay Pines Blvd. in St. Petersburg. An unoccupied gray Mercedes with a broken windshield and damaged bumper was located by Deputies. Deputies have been in contact with the registered owner of the vehicle and the investigation is ongoing.
Anyone with information on this crash is asked to contact Deputy Jeremy Kurella at (727) 582-6200 or to remain anonymous and be eligible for a reward contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-873-TIPS or www.crimestoppersofpinellas.org.