Driver Hits Bicyclist While Fleeing From Another Crash: FL Troopers

MANATEE County, FL — A bicyclist in Manatee County was seriously injured after being hit by a 78-year-old Massachusetts man fleeing another crash on Thursday afternoon, according to a Florida Highway Patrol news release.

The driver, John Figgie, was charged with leaving the scene of a serious injury crash, a felony, and other moving violations.

Figgie, who was involved in a hit-and-run crash in Sarasota County earlier, was heading north on U.S. 41, north of Seagate Drive, when he drifted into the bicycle lane just after 3 p.m., FHP said.

He hit a 78-year-old Sarasota man on an electric bicycle, who was brought to a local hospital with critical injuries.

Figgie left the scene and kept driving north on U.S. 41. About one-half mile later, he was involved in a third crash, when he rearended a van driven by a 35-year-old Kentucky man, FHP said.

This third crash disabled Figgie’s SUV. Neither he nor the van’s driver were injured in that crash.