St. Pete Man Dead In Fiery Pinellas Park Crash

PINELLAS PARK, FL — The Pinellas Park Police Department has identified a man killed in a single-vehicle crash early Monday morning.

According to the agency, Michael Hester, 60, of St. Petersburg was traveling northbound under the U.S. 19 overpass around 3 a.m. Monday when his Ford F150 struck a support pillar and burst into flames. Hester was pronounced dead at the scene.

The crash closed Bryan Dairy Road for several hours as investigators made sure the overpass was not damaged.

While the crash investigation remains ongoing, “at this time, speed appears to be a factor,” the police department wrote in an email to media. Police released Hester’s name shortly after 4:30 p.m. Monday.

No further details are being released at this time.

Photos courtesy of the Pinellas Park Police Department

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