HOLMES BEACH – The driver of a truck who struck two women pedestrians at Gulf Drive and Marine Drive on May 12 while they crossed the street is contesting the traffic citation with a plea of not guilty.
The crash led to the May 17 death of Miriam Trotter, 86, of Maryland. She was crossing Gulf Drive northbound in the marked crosswalk with her daughter, Deborah Trotter, 65, of Holmes Beach when Michael Ritchie, 43, of Bradenton, made a left turn on a green light from southbound Marina Drive onto southbound Gulf Drive in a 2018 GMC truck and struck both women, according to a Holmes Beach Police Department report.
Both pedestrians were transported to HCA Florida Blake Hospital with injuries. Deborah Trotter was released from the hospital the same day.
Holmes Beach police cited Ritchie for failure to yield the right of way to a pedestrian at an intersection with a traffic control device under Florida Statute 316.130(7)(A). Ritchie was not charged with a criminal offense because the police investigation determined he was not under the influence of drugs or alcohol and he did not leave the scene of the accident.
According to documents obtained in public records, Ritchie obtained the services of Sarasota-based attorney David Haenel. A pretrial hearing is scheduled for Wednesday, June 7 at 8:30 a.m. in Manatee County’s 12th Judicial Circuit Court. Ritchie has requested a trial by judge.
The accident led to changes in the traffic light pattern at the three-way intersection. Now, when the signal for pedestrians to cross says “walk,” the lights are red in all three directions.
Police remind drivers that even if they have a green light, they must yield to pedestrians.
