Deputies Investigate Fatal Crash Involving Bicyclist in Oldsmar
May 17, 2014
Multiple calls were received by the 9-1-1 Emergency Communications Call Center regarding a crash involving a pickup truck and a bicyclist. The call for service came in about 9:45pm Friday evening. The crash occurred at 3689 Tampa Road in Oldsmar.
According to investigators, 53-year-old William Cowan of Tampa was exiting a driveway access at 3689 Tampa Road and was attempting a westbound turn onto Tampa Road. 29-year-old Vitalii Karpenko of Clearwater was riding a bicycle eastbound on the north sidewalk of Tampa Road. As Cowan began to accelerate his 2011 Dodge Ram 2500 Pickup, he struck Karpenko who was attempting to cross the driveway access in front of Cowan’s vehicle.
Crews from Safety Harbor Fire Department arrived on-scene and found Karpenko became pinned under Cowan’s vehicle and suffered fatal injuries.
Westbound lanes of Tampa Road were closed into the morning hours so that the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office Major Accident Investigation Team (M.A.I.T.) could conduct their on-site investigation.
Detectives say alcohol may have been a contributing factor in the crash but did not specify which individual may have been impaired.
The investigation continues.
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