Two pedestrians killed in Clearwater accidents

The deaths on Saturday brought the number of pedestrian fatalities in the city to four for the week.

By AMY WIMMER

Revised August 31, 2000

© St. Petersburg Times, published August 21, 2000

CLEARWATER -- Two pedestrians were killed in unrelated accidents Saturday night while trying to cross busy streets in Clearwater.

"Although investigations into the circumstances of both situations are continuing, it appears that in each case the pedestrians walked into the path of traffic," Clearwater police spokesman Wayne Shelor said.

The men's deaths brought Clearwater's total number of pedestrian deaths last week to four. Two other people died in separate accidents Monday and Wednesday.

In the first of two Saturday night accidents, an unidentified man thought to be in his 50s or 60s was struck by a motorcycle at about 9:25 p.m. while crossing the northbound lanes of Missouri Avenue in Clearwater. The motorcyclist, 27-year-old Brandon Gernold of Largo, changed lanes to avoid hitting the man, but the pedestrian continued walking into Gernold's path.

Gernold, who was wearing a helmet, was thrown from the bike but received only minor injuries. The pedestrian, who Clearwater police were still trying to identify, was taken to Morton Plant Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at about 10 p.m.

The northbound lanes of Missouri Avenue were closed to traffic for several hours.

In the other accident, which occurred at 10:20 p.m., Paul J. Rosenheck, 39, of 509 N Highland Ave. in Clearwater, was struck as he tried to cross the southbound lanes of U.S. 19 near N Sunset Point.

He was struck in the center lane as he darted across the street by a car driven by Jennifer Rose Urban, 22, of 7014 Delta Way in Clearwater, who was uninjured. Rosenheck died upon impact, Shelor said.

The southbound lanes of U.S. 19 were closed and traffic rerouted for several hours after the accident.

Last year, five of the 10 pedestrians killed on Clearwater roads were on U.S. 19. All five accidents were the fault of the pedestrians. Three involved alcohol.

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