Man Admits To Smoking Crack Cocaine Before Fatal Crash: Police

CLEARWATER, FL — A driver has been charged with vehicular manslaughter after he admitted to smoking crack cocaine and then getting into an accident that killed a 29-year-old motorcyclist, according to Clearwater police.

Clearwater police were called to an accident at 11:22 p.m. Saturday in the eastbound lanes of the Courtney Campbell Causeway after a pickup truck driven by Wilbur French drove through some traffic cones and struck a motorcycle ridden by Edward Jimenez of Pinellas Park.

Jimenez died at the scene.

Police said French exhibited signs of impairment and was taken to Morton Plant Hospital to be medically evaluated. According to police, French had undergone surgery earlier in the day, and was given narcotics before leaving the facility against the advice of medical personnel. He also admitted to smoking crack cocaine hours before the crash.

French was arrested and charged with DUI manslaughter and vehicular homicide. He was booked into the Pinellas County Jail on a $40,000 bail.