She was walking her dog when woman was struck, killed by vehicle

A woman struck by a vehicle while walking her dog Tuesday morning died from her injuries.

Maria Blanco-Taha, 55, of Englewood, was walking her dog in the grass along the southbound side of Heasley Road near Maria Street when a 24-year-old man driving a 2015 Jeep Wrangler was driving south on the same road, according to Florida Highway Patrol.

The driver, Kyle Dilley of Englewood, told officials he reached into the backseat to get a bottle for the passenger when his vehicle’s tires went into the grass on the side of the road, according to FHP.

As Blanco-Taha tried to walk around a mailbox, the Jeep went off the road and struck her, according to FHP.

Blanco-Taha was taken to Sarasota Memorial Hospital but died as a result of her injuries, according to FHP.

The FHP release states Dilley was not injured in the incident and was charged with careless driving. The crash remains under investigation.

This story was originally published May 16, 2017 at 6:30 PM with the headline "She was walking her dog when woman was struck, killed by vehicle."