One dead, one critically hurt in River Road crash
SARASOTA COUNTY — A 34-year-old man died and a 20-year-old woman is in critical condition following a Tuesday night crash on North River Road.
The man, Gerald Edward Tindall of Port Charlotte was not wearing a seat belt, and authorities don’t know if alcohol was a factor in the crash, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. A report shows that shortly before 10 p.m. Tuesday, Tindall was driving a 2002 Ford Mustang north on River Road, south of Venice Avenue. A 2004 Dodge Neon and a 2000 Pontiac Montana were traveling south. The report shows the Mustang drifted into the southbound lane, colliding with the left side of the Neon. The Neon spun around, ending up in the northbound lane. The Mustang then struck the Pontiac, which also spun around, landing on the shoulder of the road. After colliding with the Pontiac, the Mustang also spun around, coming to rest in the northbound lane. Tindall was killed, the report shows. A passenger in the Mustang, Shawn Rooney, 24, of Venice, had minor injuries, as did the driver of the Neon, Ariel Jordan Bryant, 21, of North Port. The driver of the Pontiac, Brittany Nicole Thomas, 20, of Port Charlotte, suffered critical injuries and was taken to Blake Medical Center in Bradenton. Everyone else involved in the wreck was wearing a seat belt, the report shows.