94-Year-Old Dies After Wheelchair Crashes into Semi-Trailer

A 94-year-old man died Thursday afternoon after he drove his motorized wheel chair into the path of a semi-trailer truc on U.S. 19, according to the New Port Richey Police Department.

Royce Merton Shean, of New Port Richey, was traveling west across U.S. 19 at the 5100 block when he crossed in front of the Sterling semi-trailer being driven in the center lane by Damian Gerardo Sanchez-Rodriguez, 39, of Spring Hill.

Sanchez-Rodriguez swerved to avoid crashing into Shean, but Shean’s chair hit the vehicle’s outer right tire on the front right axle.  Shean was thrown from chair  and died at the scene. The investigation is ongoing, but there are no charges pending.