Officers from the St. Petersburg Police continue to investigate a fatality crash that killed a pedestrian. The crash occurred just before 9 p.m. on Thursday, November 17th, 2022.
According to investigators, 57 year-old Scott Herndon was operating a black 2018 Chevy SUV, westbound on Central Avenue, approaching 25th Street South.
John Cowie, age 67, walked across Central Avenue from South to North in the 2500 block and was not in a crosswalk. He was struck by the SUV in the westbound lane of Central Avenue.
According to arrest documentation, Herndon initially exited his vehicle, looked at the victim, then reentered his vehicle and fled the scene in his vehicle. He was followed by a witness and later returned to the scene of the crash.
Cowie was transported to Bayfront Health St. Petersburg where he later died from his injuries on November 18th, 2022.
On Wednesday, November 23, 2022, Scott Herndon was arrested and charged with Leaving the Scene of an Accident Causing Death.
According to the St. Petersburg Police Department, year-to-date they have had eleven pedestrian fatalities and one bicycle fatality. Pinellas County ranks in the top 25 counties in the state for traffic crashes resulting in serious and fatal injuries to pedestrians and bicyclists.