Manatee Teacher Dies After Being Hit By Car In St. Pete: Police

ST. PETERSBURG, FL — A Manatee County teacher hit by a car Saturday night in downtown St. Petersburg has died from his injuries, according to a St. Petersburg Police Department news release.

Jeffrey Wilson was walking with his wife, Ariane Wilson, and their daughter, Emily Wilson, in a crosswalk at Third Street N. when he and his wife were hit by a car turning from Central Avenue around 6:30 p.m., the Tampa Bay Times reported.

Jeffrey was a gym teacher at Freedom Elementary School, where his wife is also a kindergarten teacher.

He was hit directly by the car and rolled over its hood, according to ABC7. He was brought to Bayfront Medical Center, where he was hospitalized in the intensive care unit, with multiple brain bleeds and brain swelling.

Ariane injured her shoulder and suffered broken ribs, Freedom Elementary Schoolwrote in a Facebook post Sunday evening.

Jeffrey’s condition worsened overnight, the school wrote Monday morning in an “absolutely heartbreaking and devastating update” on Facebook.

His family was told around 3:30 a.m. that he no longer had brain activity and they gave doctors an order to not resuscitate him, the school said.

The School District of Manatee County told the Bradenton Herald that Jeffrey died Tuesday morning.

Members of the Freedom Elementary School grieved the educator’s loss in comments on the school’s Facebook page.

“Coach has been an amazing role model in this community for so long. He’s helped our kids grow as leaders, and now they share his passion for health and fitness,” one Facebook user wrote. “He’s significantly impacted the lives of so many. What an amazing legacy. Praying that the Wilson family will experience peace and strength during this difficult time.”

Another user wrote, “We are heartbroken to hear this. Coach Wilson was an amazing person and loved the kids. You will be truly missed. We will be praying for the family.”