BRADENTON, Fla. -- On Sunday night, a man was killed while crossing 15th Street in Bradenton. Six blocks away, the same thing happened just 14 hours earlier.
"It is a big problem. Because if we’re talking two people within 14 hours [get hit] on the same road, yeah. I mean change the speed limit, something," said Sherryl Carter who drives through 15th Street often.
People who take 15th Street in Bradenton say it can be dangerous for drivers and pedestrians who don’t follow the rules of the road.
"I just see them running out in the street. I don’t know what they’re doing," said Esther Keen, who lives nearby.
Florida Highway Patrol state trooper Ken Watson says 51-year-old Pablo Tobar was hit and killed while crossing 15th Street near 57th Avenue on Sunday morning at 3:45 a.m. The driver never stopped and Tobar died at the scene.
Just six blocks away, 66-year-old Keith Queen was hit and killed on 15th Street and 51st Avenue at 6:30 p.m. That driver stopped and was determined to be not at fault.
"The road, in and of itself, is safe. We have pedestrians making bad decisions," said Watson.
Watson says both people were wearing dark clothing at night and darted out into traffic. He says pedestrians need to use common sense, crosswalks and flashlights.
"The bottom line is that we have pedestrians making poor decisions and unfortunately they’re paying with their lives," said Watson.
Troopers are still looking for the hit-and-run driver of the vehicle that killed Tobar. They say it was in a blue Honda Civic or Accord.
They’re asking for anyone with any information to contact FHP by pressing *FHP or *347 on your cell phone or contact Crime Stoppers.
