Man Dies After Being Struck By Two Vehicles
St. Petersburg, Fla.- The Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office is searching for a suspect involved with the hit-and-run that killed a 36-year old man Thursday night.
According to St. Pete Patch, officials said, Randy Ripple was walking south across 54th Avenue North around 9:08 p.m. He was not using a designated crosswalk when he was struck by a Jeep Patriot. The driver was Teena Harrigan, 45, of St. Petersburg.
Harrigan had been heading east in the median lane on 54th Avenue North.
“Investigators say within seconds of Teena’s Jeep striking Randal, a second vehicle, a white four-door hatchback struck Randal and dragged him several feet before stopping,” an email from the sheriff’s office said, per St. Pete Patch. Harrigan reported that the hatchback’s driver pulled over, got out, spoke with her and then left without providing any information.
Ripple was pronounced dead at the scene.
Harriman remained at the scene and waited for authorities. She voluntarily provided a blood draw, but no impairment was suspected on her part.
However, impairment was suspected with Ripple. On the south side of 54th Avenue North, deputies found several empty alcohol containers. A witness told deputies they had seen Ripples sitting in the area drinking what they had believed to be alcoholic beverages before the accident occurred.
Now authorities are searching for the driver of the second vehicle that hit Ripple. The driver is described as a white male in his 50s or 60s. He is a medium build and stands at about 5-foot-5. He was last seen driving his hatchback heading east on 54th Avenue North.
Anyone with information on the accident is asked to call the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office at 727-582-6200.
News Talk Florida will continue to follow this story and report any new information that is released.
