Pedestrian dies on Memorial Causeway

By SHEELA RAMAN
Published December 30, 2006

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CLEARWATER - A pedestrian trying to cross the Memorial Causeway to Clearwater Beach died Friday evening after being hit by a Rolls-Royce near Island Estates, police said.

The driver of the 1994 black Rolls-Royce was heading west on the causeway about 6:30 p.m. when the pedestrian tried to cross from the south to the north side of the road near Island Way.

The pedestrian made it across the eastbound lanes of the divided highway but was hit trying to cross the westbound lanes. The impact dented the front grille of the car.

The pedestrian was pronounced dead at Morton Plant Hospital. Police had not released the victim's name, age or gender or the name of the driver late Friday night.

The driver stopped after the accident, and police said he did not appear to be speeding or at fault. Westbound lanes of the causeway were closed for several hours Friday as police investigated the death.