ST. PETERSBURG - The driver who barrelled into a group of bicyclists in July, injuring 14 of them, pleaded not guilty Tuesday to a careless driving charge.
The driver, Joseph Pastore, 60, has a 1 p.m. Sept. 26 pretrial hearing in St. Petersburg traffic court, 1800 66th St. N.
County Judge William H. Overton asked Pastore to get a "Getting in Gear" assessment, a program offered by the Area Agency on Aging. Getting in Gear offers extensive tests, including a road test and computer scenarios to assess vision and reaction time. Overton said Tuesday he will consider the assessment, public input and the police accident report in determining a disposition in the case. If Pastore does not accept the court's decision, he could request a trial.
Blood tests showed Pastore was not on any drugs for which drivers are routinely screened during DUI investigations, though his poor health and prescription medications could have caused him to blackout moments before the crash July 6.
At least two bicyclists remain hospitalized from injuries sustained in the crash.
