A 57-year-old bicyclist from Hudson died after being struck by a car overnight in Pasco County, in a crash that unfolded at the intersection of US-19 and SR-52 at approximately 12:10 a.m. Sunday. The rider was attempting to cross the highway when he was hit, and he later died from his injuries at an area hospital.
According to troopers, the bicyclist was struck while attempting to ride across the highway, as reported by WFTV. The vehicle involved was a Kia K5 driven by a 50-year-old woman from Brooksville, and it was traveling northbound on US-19 when the bicyclist entered its path at the SR-52 intersection. Emergency responders transported him to an area hospital, where he later died from injuries suffered in the crash.
Few Details Released So Far
Per Pasco News Online, no additional information was immediately released following the crash. The bicyclist's name has not been made public, and it remains unclear whether the driver will face any citation or charge in connection with the collision.
A Dangerous Stretch of Highway
The intersection sits along a section of US-19 that has drawn scrutiny for years. The stretch of US-19 between SR-52 and Hachem Drive saw 367 crashes between Jan. 1, 2013, and April 1 of the reported year, according to figures previously cited by Bay News 9. Nine of those crashes involved pedestrians, the outlet reported.
That same report detailed an earlier fatality nearby: Jamie Dawn Patterson, 46, was fatally struck while trying to cross US-19 near Hudson, and the driver left the scene, Bay News 9 reported at the time.
Overpass Project Underway Nearby
Separately, a pedestrian overpass is being built over SR-52 next to the Suncoast Parkway as part of the Suncoast Trail in Pasco County, according to project details published by the Florida Department of Transportation. Construction on that project was underway as of January 5, and a street-level crossing remains available for pedestrians and bicyclists to cross SR-52 while work continues. It is not known whether that construction or any related lane closures had any bearing on Sunday's crash.
