Pedestrian's death leaves questions in Port Richey

By Times Staff Writer
Published February 29, 2008

PORT RICHEY - Jan. 18, a Friday, Christopher Raimann went to work, stopped off at happy hour before coming home, then rode his bike to Publix to pick up some snacks.

For some reason, he left his bike at the store and began walking toward Regency Park Boulevard. More unexplained, he stepped into oncoming traffic.

Raimann, a 29-year-old air conditioning technician, was killed about 7:30 that night when he was struck by a northbound BMW, a Florida Highway Patrol report said. A witness said Raimann appeared to be looking down the whole time, like he was chasing something, maybe an animal.

The driver of the BMW, Rolando Martinez-Cruz of Port Richey, was not charged in the crash but was cited for not having a valid license.

Raimann's death somehow escaped news reports that weekend. Carol Bayer, Raimann's grandmother with whom he lived in Orchid Lake Village, said she's still getting calls from people who don't know he is gone.

Still devastated, she carries a lock of Raimann's hair in a little plastic bag in her purse and a pinch of his ashes in a heart-shaped locket around her neck.

"I cry every day," she said. "I can't stop."

[Last modified February 28, 2008, 21:49:47]