Crime & Safety
Tampa Man Critical After Crash That Closed Fletcher Avenue
The motorcyclist was struck while pulling out into traffic Monday afternoon.
A 49-year-old Tampa man suffered life-threatening injuries Monday afternoon during a crash on Fletcher Avenue.
According to the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, Alexander Cooks Sr. was riding a Suzuki motorcycle through the Winn-Dixie parking lot at 13508 N. Florida Ave. around 4:17 p.m. Cooks, the sheriff’s office said, was exiting the parking lot on the south side to access Fletcher Avenue.
Cooks, an email from the agency to media said, accelerated his bike, “but failed to yield to traffic already on Fletcher Avenue.”
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Cooks struck a westbound Chevrolet Malibu driven by Daphne McElwreath, 68, on its passenger side.
Cooks was wearing a helmet, but deputies say he suffered life-threatening injuries. He was taken to St. Joseph’s Hospital where he was listed in critical condition Tuesday morning.
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The accident closed westbound Fletcher Avenue for several hours Monday evening.
Image via Shutterstock
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