Crime & Safety
Bicyclist Killed In Crash; Man Charged With DUI Manslaughter
A 31-year-old man has been charged with driving under the influence manslaughter after being accused of striking and killing a bicyclist.
PINELLAS PARK, FL — A 31-year-old man has been charged with driving under the influence manslaughter after being accused of striking and killing a bicyclist in Pinellas Park Saturday.
According to Pinellas Park police, at 11:30 p.m. Anthony Messina Jr. from St. Petersburg was driving south in the 9600 block of 49th Street when he struck bicyclist Jacqueline Hearns, 57, as she was crossing 49th Street.
Paramedics pronounced her dead at the scene.
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Police said Hearns was using the lights on her bike at the time of the accident.
Throughout the investigation, they said Messina shows signs of being intoxicated, and officers subsequently arrested and charged him with DUI manslaughter. In addition to being intoxicated, police say Messina may have been speeding at the time of the crash.
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A second crash occurred in the northbound lanes of 49th Street due to traffic stopping for the first crash. A driver involved in the second crash was arrested for DUI, but there were no injuries.
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