Man Pushing a Wheelchair Dies After Being Struck by a Pickup Truck’s Trailer in St. Petersburg
The fatality crash occurred at approximately 6:15p.m. on Monday, November 5, 2018.
According to investigators from the St. Petersburg Police Department, a 1999 Chevrolet Silveraldo 2500 pickup truck pulling a 16-foot trailer, driven by 81 year-old James Adam Fraser, was northbound on 34th Street North in the median lane.
A pedestrian, George Fletcher Ball, age 64, was crossing midblock in the 1700 block of 34th Street North from west to east. Ball, who was pushing a wheelchair, stopped on the median, however, placed the wheelchair in the northbound traffic lane of 34th Street North.
The Chevrolet Silveraldo swerved to avoid the wheelchair, however struck the wheelchair with the trailer it was pulling. The trailer pushed the wheelchair into Ball.
Ball sustained life threatening injuries and was transported to Bayfront Health St. Petersburg. Ball died later that evening due to the extent of his injuries.
The driver faces no charges at this time but the investigation is still ongoing.
Investigators closed 34th Street North from 17th Avenue to 22nd Avenue North during the investigation.