MANATEE COUNTY – Florida Highway Patrol has announce one man has died and another was injured after an accident caused by avoiding wildlife on the roadway.
The crash occurred as a 20 year old man from Bradenton was driving eastbound on State Road 70 east of Lowe Avenue with a 23 year old passenger from Arcadia in a sedan.
At 10:41 in the evening, they encountered a large alligator that was crossing State Road 70 from the south to the north.
The driver attempted to avoid hitting the alligator and swerved the sedan toward the left.
However after veering to the left, the driver lost control, the sedan crossed the painted median traveling over the westbound lane and began to spin as it crossed over the shoulder on the north side of state road 70.
The vehicle continued to rotate as it went through a water-filled ditch then crashed into a tree.
After colliding with the tree the sedan came to a stop in the water-filled ditch facing the southwest.
Both the 20 year old driver from Bradenton, and the 23 year old passenger from Arcadia were wearing their seat belts during the crash, however the passenger died as a result of his injuries.
The driver suffered only minor injuries from the accident.
FHP has stated the accident remains under investigation