St Petersburg Police Department has now arrested Matthew E. Cook, 27, on charges of DUI Manslaughter, vehicular homicide, child abuse and DUI involving serious bodily injury.
At approximately 3:00 p.m. yesterday afternoon, Cook was released from Bayfront Medical Center where he had undergone treatment for injuries suffered during the April 14th accident in the 5200 block of 1st Avenue South.
Accident investigators met Cook at the hospital and took him into custody on several charges related to the accident which resulted in the death of Kris Ann Jones.
Specifically investigators have determined that at the time of the accident, Cook was driving while the influence of Opiates, Benzodiazeines, Marijuana, Cocaine, Methadone and Oxycodone.
Further, they found that he was driving his vehicle at an excessive speed of over 80 mph in a posted 40 mph zone and did so with his three year old daughter in the car.
At the time his daughter was in a child seat, but not properly restrained and was partially thrown from the seat and suffered burns, abrasions and contusions to her body.
Investigators are still attempting to identify the driver of a small, faded white car, possible foreign, that appeared to be racing Cook’s vehicle just prior to the accident.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Officer Michael Jockers at 727-893- 4813 or the St. Petersburg Police Tip Line at 727- 892-5000
Previous story:
There was a fatal bicycle crash on April 14, 2012 at approxmately 7:07 p.m.at the 5200 block of 1st Avenue South.
A 1995 Honda Civic, being driven by Matthew E. Cook, was traveling eastbound on 1st Avenue South, at a very high rate of speed and possible racing a small white foreign vehicle.
Cook had his three year old daughter in the vehicle with him.
Kris Ann Jones,40, was riding her bicycle eastbound in the bike lane, adjacent to the south curb lane of 1st Avenue South.
As Cook entered the 5200 block, he was closing on a sport utility vehicle which had also been eastbound in the south curb lane of 1st Avenue South and was traveling at or near the speed limit.
The white car which appears to have been racing the Honda, moved from the center lane to the north curb lane.
For an unknown reason, Cook attempted to pass the sport utility vehicle by moving to his right, into the bike lane.
It appears Cook then became aware of Jones on her bicycle and slammed on his brakes.
The Honda skidded into Jones, throwing her into the windshield and roof of the Honda.
The Honda then continued sliding into the rear of a Dodge Durango which was parked in front of 5210 1st Avenue South.
The Honda struck the Dodge so hard; it pushed the sport utility vehicle off the road and into a tree.
Jones was then thrown to the pavement and was pronounced dead at the scene.
Cook was transported to Bayfront Medical Center in serious condition and his three year old daughter was transported to All Children’s Hospital where she was treated and released.
