Arrest Made In Siesta Key Bridge Hit And Run

Sarasota Police have charged a 35-year-old man Tuesday for the Aug. 1 .

Gary F. O’Callaghan of 5159 Oxford Drive, was arrested based on a warrant obtained by Officer Bales, charging O’Callaghan with leaving the scene of a crash with serious bodily injury and leaving the scene of a crash with property damage, according to the police department. He was also cited for failure to render aid, according to police. The arrest warrant set O’Callaghan’s bond at $50,000.

O'Callagan was driving west on State Route 758 in a 2010 red Lexus when he failed to stop for a flagman, according to police. The flagman even waved his arms and yelled at him, but backed up in fear of being hit and fell over the metal railing, according to police.

Another worker, Larry Norris, 60, heard the flagman yelling, also afraid he would be struck and climbed over the concrete railing on the bridge, according to police.

By that time, O’Callaghan struck three construction barrels, one which struck Norris causing him to fall from the bridge to the ground below, according to police.

O’Callaghan continued to go west with a construction barrel under his vehicle where an officer saw him go by.  The officer attempted to follow and get a tag, however he was unable to catch up to the vehicle, according to police.

According to investigators, O’Callaghan did told six co-workers on Aug. 1 after arriving at work that he was coming home at 2:30 a.m. and was going over the Siesta Bridge, when a black Cadillac Escalade struck construction barrels and he swerved to avoid one, and struck another. 

All witnesses told police that there was not another vehicle that struck the barrels.