First responders were dispatched to reports of a crash involving a bicyclist in the westbound lanes of the Park Boulevard Bridge. The crash occurred at approximately 6:05 a.m. on Wednesday, October 13, 2021.
According to investigators, 60-year-old bicyclist Sherry Nowotarski was riding her bicycle westbound over the bridge, when she lost control of the bicycle and fell into the curb lane.
Investigators say a 41-year-old man from Columbus, Ohio was driving a 2015 Dodge Dart westbound over the bridge. The driver was unable to avoid hitting Nowotarski and struck her with the passenger side of his vehicle.
Nowotarski was transported to Bayfront Health St. Petersburg with life-threatening injuries.
On Friday, October 15, 2021, Nowotarski died from her injuries.
Investigators say that neither speed nor impairment appear to be factors in this crash.
Sherry was an 11 year veteran of the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office. She was an Administrative Assistant within our Community Policing Unit and will be sorely missed by the Agency.
The roadway reopened at approximately 12:30 p.m.
The investigation by the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office Major Accident Investigation Team continues.
A GoFundMe account has been set up at https://www.gofundme.com/f/brgpmc-help-sherry