A Madeira Beach pedestrian accident investigation is underway after a fatal collision occurred last Sunday night. The Major Accident Investigation Team (MAIT) of the local sheriff's department is piecing together the circumstances that led to a senior citizen being struck in a crosswalk by an alleged impaired driver.
Around 9:01 P.M. on Friday, Michael Arndt, a 72-year-old man, was crossing 150th Ave at Madeira Way when he was hit by an eastbound Jeep Wrangler. Details from the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office indicate that the driver, 51-year-old Vanessa Downs, showed signs of impairment and subsequently performed poorly on field sobriety tests. Downs has been arrested and charged with DUI Manslaughter following the incident.
The victim was promptly transported to a hospital; however, he did not survive the injuries sustained from the crash. Downs, a Clearwater resident, was taken to the Pinellas County Jail. Arndt's family has been informed of the tragic event. As the official statement puts it, "Next of kin has been notified."
