Crash leaves one dead, one seriously injured in Manatee County, troopers say

A Bradenton man is dead after a crash on Monday in Manatee County, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

The crash occurred around 10 a.m. on 28th Avenue East at 61st Street East, east of U.S. Route 41 outside of Rubonia, according to FHP.

James Pietarila, 63, was driving north on 28th Avenue East in a 2000 Dodge Dakota when he failed to stop for a stop sign at 61st Street East, troopers say. Pietarila’s car entered the path of a 2017 Dodge Journey driven by a 46-year-old Palmetto woman.

Th woman attempted to avoid a collision, but the right side of her SUV hit the left side of Pietarila’s truck.

The SUV then began to rotate, hitting Pietarila’s vehicle again on the right side. The collision forced his truck into a ditch on the north side of 61st Street East, where it hit a tree and a guy wire.

Pietarila’s truck came to a final rest in the ditch, and the SUV stopped lodged partially in the ditch.

Pietarila was transferred to Manatee Memorial Hospital for care, but he suffered fatal injuries as a result of the crash.

The driver of the Dodge Journey was transported to Manatee Memorial Hospital with serious injuries.

The intersection was closed for several hours and reopened on Monday afternoon.

The crash remains under investigation, according to FHP.

This story was originally published April 8, 2019 at 12:58 PM.