KEY WEST MAN STRUCK & KILLED BY TWO CARS IN THE UPPER KEYS

File photo

A pedestrian was struck and killed by two vehicles on U.S. 1 near MM 89 on Plantation Key on Thursday evening, according to Florida Highway Patrol.

The call came in around 7:10 p.m. of a male who was reportedly attempting to cross the highway just north of Seminole Boulevard. According to FHP, a 78-year-old man from Key West was struck by a GMC Yukon and Toyota Rav 4. Both vehicles were traveling south when they hit the man, who troopers say was in the roadway. 

Troopers say the man was pronounced dead at the scene.

FHP swiftly arrived on scene to investigate the crash. Monroe County Sheriff’s deputies also arrived to divert traffic from U.S. 1 to the Old Highway. Islamorada Fire Rescue was also on scene. The highway was shut down for more than an hour. 

FHP doesn’t immediately release the names of those involved in the crash, including victims. That’s due to a law passed in 2018 by 62% of Florida voters that protects victims in certain incidents like crashes and crimes. 

The incident remains under investigation.

Jim McCarthy
Jim McCarthy is one of the many Western New Yorkers who escaped the snow and frigid temperatures for warm living by the water. A former crime & court reporter and city editor for two Western New York newspapers, Jim has been honing his craft since he graduated from St. Bonaventure University in 2014. In his 4-plus years in the Keys, Jim has enjoyed connecting with the community. “One of my college professors would always preach to be curious,” he said. “Behind every person is a story that’s unique to them, and one worth telling. As writers, we are the ones who paint the pictures in the readers minds of the emotions, the struggles and the triumphs.” Jim is past president of the Key Largo Sunset Rotary Club, which is composed of energetic members who serve the community’s youth and older populations. Jim is a sports fanatic who loves to watch football, hockey, mixed martial arts and golf. He also enjoys time with family and his new baby boy, Lucas, who arrived Oct. 4, 2022.