Deputies from the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office continue to investigate a fatal crash involving a pedestrian that occurred Thursday morning in Seminole. New details emerged nearly one year after the initial crash.
The crash occurred at approximately 12:49 a.m. on Thursday, December 16, 2021 just east of the intersection of Park Boulevard and Starkey Road.
Based on preliminary information, investigators said that 54-year-old Francine Mashtare of Seminole was driving westbound in a 2014 Chevrolet Camaro on Park Boulevard approaching Starkey Road. The pedestrian, 70-year-old Thomas Rothwell was crossing Park Boulevard northbound in the area of a designated crosswalk.
Investigators said that Mashtare struck Rothwell with the front driver’s side of her vehicle. Rothwell was pronounced dead at the scene.
Deputies say that Mashtare showed indicators of impairment and was arrested. She was transported to the Pinellas County Jail and charged with one count of DUI Manslaughter.
Throughout the course of the investigation, nearly one year after the crash, investigators learned that Mashtare was the passenger of the vehicle the night of the crash, and the driver was actually 60-year-old Adam Garabrant.
On Thursday, December 15, 2022, at approximately 7:30 a.m., deputies assigned to the Major Accident Investigation Team arrested Garabrant and charged him with one count of leaving the scene of a crash involving death.
According to investigators, Garabrant admitted to the owner of the bar Liquid Therapy that he was the driver and should have been arrested.
Garabrant was transported to the Pinellas County Jail.
Mashtare’s DUI Manslaughter Charge will be amended to a DUI.
The investigation continues.