Alcohol suspected to be a factor in the incident, which occurred about 2:15 a.m. April 3
A Bradenton man was killed about 2:15 a.m. on Monday, April 3, when a sport utility vehicle struck a tree at a curve on Higel Avenue, the Sarasota Police Department reported.
The driver and a backseat passenger — both females — were transported to Sarasota Memorial Hospital with serious injuries, a department news release said.
A Dodge Journey was traveling northbound on Higel, approaching Siesta Drive, “when the driver failed to negotiate a turn in the road,” the release added.
Higel curves sharply at the intersection with Siesta Drive. Signage installed in 2015 warns both north- and southbound drivers to slow down as they approach that part of the road.
Christopher Tirado, 29, who also was in the backseat of the Dodge, died at the scene of the incident, the release noted.
Only the driver was wearing a seatbelt, the release said. “Alcohol is believed to be a factor in the crash,” it added, noting, “The crash remains under investigation.”
The Police Department closed the affected segment of Higel Avenue/Siesta Drive for about three hours after responding to the scene, according to Twitter releases. Traffic was diverted from White Lane to Faubel Street, the notices said.
Genevieve Judge, the communications coordinator with the Police Department, told The Sarasota News Leader on April 3 that it could take several weeks for the report of the investigation to be completed.