St. Pete Man Admits To Police He Had No Intention Of Avoiding Impact With Victim On Bike

ST. PETERSBURG, FL — A head-on collision involving an e-scooter and bicycle Thursday that killed an elderly St. Petersburg woman could have possibly been prevented, police said.

Twenty-two-year-old Tyler Andrew Brady of St. Pete faces charges of manslaughter after investigators accused him of careless operation of his personal electric motorized scooter in disregard for the safety and welfare of the public in the 6500 block of 18th Avenue. He made no effort to avoid smashing into her.

According to an affidavit, Brady told authorities he did not mean to intentionally hit the bicyclist but following his arrest Tuesday he admitted to driving straight into her without the intention of avoiding impact. The 77-year-old woman slowly rode her bike westbound on 18th Avenue North against the south curb line, against the flow of traffic. She was as close to the south curb line, in an attempt to turn south on 66th Street to go to Publix nearby, investigators said. Taylor drove his scooter at approximately 18 miles per hour and saw the victim from the middle of the intersection, 80 feet away, the affidavit reported. The victim barely peddled and had possibly stopped against the curb to allow the defendant and another eastbound vehicle to pass.

"The defendant did not brake to slow down and minimize the impact, nor did he swerve in an attempt to avoid the collision, despite the majority of the eastbound lane being open and unobstructed," the affidavit reported. "The defendant and his scooter struck Alvera Minutello and her bicycle head-on, causing significant damage to both vehicles and causing life-threatening injuries to victim."

Minutello had several broken ribs, a broken eye socket and significant bleeding to her brain stem, detectives said. She died of her injuries at 10:25 a.m. Monday, according to a police report. Brady did not experience any injuries.

A witness who remained anonymous told WTVT, "Right after the accident, I heard the calamity. when I heard the calamity, I heard the kid cussing and he was all upset saying, 'This is bull. I was just going to work. I was just going to work. She should've moved.' I called the police and the was just in bad shape."

The arrest affidavit reported that Brady was not showing signs of impairment caused by drugs or alcohol.