Crime & Safety
Belleair Motorist Strikes Pedestrian in Fatal Collision
The 41-year-old victim died from his injuries after being struck by a vehicle as he tried to cross U.S. 19.
A 22-year-old Belleair driver struck and killed a pedestrian Friday evening who was trying to cross the eight lanes of U.S. 19 without using a crosswalk.
John Paul Guekunst, 41, died of his injuries on the scene, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
Shannon M. Johnson, 22, of Belleair, was driving north in a 1999 Mitsubishi Eclipse in the inside center lane on U.S. 19. Guekunst was walking across the split, eight-lane highway from east to west just before 7:30 p.m., according to a preliminary report from Florida Highway Patrol.
Find out what's happening in Pinellas Beacheswith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Johnson's vehicle struck Guekunst head-on just as she was approaching Highlands Boulevard in Palm Harbor.
Guekunst was not in a crosswalk, Florida Highway Patrol reports.
Find out what's happening in Pinellas Beacheswith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Johnson's Mitsubishi Eclipse sustained $2,500 in damages, authorities estimate. She was wearing a seat belt and blood-alcohol test results are still pending, according to the preliminary FHP report.
The investigation is ongoing.
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
