The Clearwater Police department have arrested 47 year-old Eric W French of Clearwater. French was involved in a crash that killed a motorcyclist, 29 year-old Edward Jimenez of Pinellas Park.
The crash occurred at approximately 11:22 p.m. on Saturday, April 24, 2021 on the Courtney Campbell Causeway.
Investigators say that Jimenez was traveling east on his 2018 Suzuki motorcycle on the causeway when the collision occurred. French had been traveling west in a 2007 Lincoln pickup when he made a left turn into the path of the motorcycle.
Investigators say that French drove around cones that were in place to prevent left turns at that point in the causeway.
After the crash, French exhibited signs of impairment and was taken to Morton Plant Hospital to be medically cleared. He admitted to smoking crack cocaine earlier in the day. Investigators also learned that French had surgery earlier in the day and had left a medical facility earlier against the advice of medical personnel. He had been given multiple narcotics after surgery as well.
Jimenez died at the scene.
French was charged with DUI manslaughter and vehicular homicide and booked in to the Pinellas County Jail.
Eric W French also goes by the name Wilbur Eric French.