St. Pete Man Involved in Fatal Accident on Howard Frankland

A St. Petersburg man was one of several drivers involved in a Saturday crash that left a motorcyclist dead on the Howard Frankland Bridge, authorities said.

According to a Florida Highway Patrol report, the motorcyclist was headed south on Interstate 275 in the outside lane when he made an abrupt lane change, striking the right side of a Toyota Camry driven by 47-year-old Jon Gaudino of St. Petersburg.

Justin Mullins, 26, of Pinellas Park, was thrown from his Kawasaki motorcycle and then hit by an oncoming Chevy Silverado driven by Jeffrey Petitt, 51, of Holmes Beach.

Mullins suffered fatal injuries and died at the scene, investigators said. His passenger, 26-year-old Jessica Mullins, ended up in the outside shoulder of the roadway. She suffered minor injuries and was taken to Bayfront Medical Center.

Gaudino and Petitt did not suffer any injuries, according to the highway patrol's report.

The motorcycle also collided with a Toyota FJ Cruiser that was headed south. Its driver, Matthew Mcintee, 45, of Chicago, and another passenger were unhurt, the FHP said.

The accident happened sometime around 3:15 p.m. Saturday, the FHP reports. The bridge's two southbound lanes were closed for nearly three hours following the accident, the Tampa Bay Times reports.

No charges were immediately filed.

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