PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. – A Pinellas County Sheriff’s deputy was involved in a fatal accident with a pedestrian in Lealman on July 14, 2024.
The incident occurred at approximately 12:50 a.m. on 49th Street North. Deputy Lira-Rangel was driving his marked patrol vehicle southbound when a woman in a northbound red pickup truck attempted to alert him to something in the road. The deputy momentarily diverted his attention and felt a bump. Upon stopping and investigating, he discovered 73-year-old Mark Hunter lying in the median lane.
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Witnesses reported seeing Hunter sitting in the median lane prior to the accident. He appeared confused and was not in a designated crosswalk. Hunter was pronounced dead at the scene.
The Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office Major Accident Investigation Team is investigating the incident. Speed is not believed to be a factor, and it is unknown if impairment played a role in the pedestrian’s actions.
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