A 43-year-old Palmetto man was struck and killed early Tuesday on U.S. 41 in Manatee County, authorities said, after a southbound SUV hit him along the edge of the roadway near Scale Avenue.
The crash happened around 1:20 a.m., according to investigators. Troopers said the man was walking on the west shoulder, close to the white edge line, when the front-right side of a southbound vehicle hit him. Emergency crews responded to the scene and pronounced him dead there.
According to Tampa Bay 28, the Florida Highway Patrol identified the driver as a 27-year-old Sarasota woman who was heading south in the right lane in a 2008 Cadillac Escalade when the vehicle struck the pedestrian. Troopers said they were processing the scene and continuing to investigate the circumstances of the crash.
US 41 Already on Safety Watch List
U.S. 41, the Tamiami Trail through Bradenton and Palmetto, has been on local safety planners’ radar for years because heavy traffic and limited crossing points make it a rough walk for anyone on foot. Manatee County’s Manatee County Traffic Road Safety Program Action Plan identifies segments of U.S. 41 as part of the county’s high‑injury network, and the state crash dashboard highlights Florida’s high pedestrian fatality numbers in recent years.
Together, that local plan and state data explain why serious crashes along this stretch tend to get extra attention from traffic engineers and law enforcement.
Investigation Ongoing
Florida Highway Patrol troopers and Manatee County deputies are handling the investigation and have not released further details about the victim or whether any charges are being considered. Troopers told Tampa Bay 28 that more information will be shared as the case develops.
Anyone who witnessed the crash or has information is asked to contact the Manatee County Sheriff's Office or the Florida Highway Patrol. The sheriff's office offers a news center and tip lines on its website, and FHP’s contact page lists local troop numbers and instructions for reporting crash information.
