Tarpon Springs Man In Wheelchair Killed In U.S. 19 Crash

TARPON SPRINGS, FL -- A 58-year-old Tarpon Springs man died Monday, Sept. 17, when his wheelchair was struck by two cars while he was trying to cross U.S. 19 at Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard.

Tarpon Springs Police were called to the scene at 11:35 p.m. and found Jon Pendleton laying in the second lane from the median with multiple injuries. His badly damaged wheelchair was a lane away.

A 1995 Chevy and a 2013 Volkswagen were pulled over in the median turn lane of U.S. 19 and Lime Street.

According to police, Pendleton was attempting to cross U.S. 19 from east to west in his manual wheelchair. He was about 3 feet outside the marked crosswalk and was attempting to cross on a green light.

Witnesses said when Pendleton was near the lane closest to the median, he began waving his arms and yelling at vehicles.

Scott Mccullough of New Port Richey was driving his Chevy down U.S. 19 when he struck the wheelchair, ejecting Pendleton.

Stevan Ramirez of Tarpon Springs, the driver of the Volkswagen, then struck Pendleton again.

Pendleton was transported to Florida Hospital of North Pinellas where he was pronounced dead at 12:54 a.m.

The crash is still under investigation. Anyone who may be a witness is asked to contact Officer Robert Gomez of the Tarpon Springs Police Department at 727-938-2849.

Image via Tarpon Springs Police

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