Woman hospitalized in 3-vehicle crash in Bradenton

MANATEE -- A three-vehicle crash in Bradenton at 2:43 p.m. Wednesday caused a major roadblock on 14th Street West (U.S. 41), according to Florida Highway Patrol.

The crash was at the intersection with Orlando Avenue, about a block south of Cortez Road.

FHP trooper S. Guzman confirmed it the three-vehicle crash landed one of the drivers -- a woman -- in the hospital. He had yet to identify her.

Blocked northbound lanes of U.S. 41 and westbound lanes of Orlando Avenue were cleared by 4:30 p.m.

Rodolfo Flores, 19, said he was in his Chrysler 200 on his way to pick up his sister at a daycare when the crash happened as he crossed the intersection of Orlando Ave. and U.S. 41. According to Flores, an elderly woman driver of a GMC Terrain tried to run left onto Orange Avenue.

"The light was green and this lady -- well, two cars passed first -- and then this lady was going after them and it was too late for me to see her," he said. "I couldn't brake ... so we collided."

Flores, who studies automotive service technology at Manatee Technical College, pulled the collar of his shirt down, revealing a bruise on his neck. His left arm was also patched with bruises.

"I'm just worried about her," Flores said of the female driver who collided with him.

Flores said an ambulance took the woman away.

"The officers said that this might take a while because she's not responding and they don't know how it's going to go," he said. "I was more worried about them taking care of her."

The third driver involved, a man who declined to share his name, said he was behind the female driver just before the crash.

"She crashed into this guy and then she ended on me" he said as he stood on the sidewalk, his eyes squinting at the scene.

The man's truck was moved to a parking lot nearby as FHP troopers conducted an investigation. Manatee County Sheriff�s Office units also helped direct traffic as passing motorists peered at the scene curiously.

The GMC Terrain remained in the middle of the road, its front bumper severely damaged. Debris from cars was strewn across the sidewalk, including shards of glass and bumper parts. Two headlights lay on the grass several yards away.

Flores stood at the corner of Orange Avenue and U.S. 41 with his parents, who he called immediately after the accident. His car's front was raised onto the corner, the left side of his bumper crushed. A Tampa Bay Rays license plate hung by a screw.

"They told me it's totaled," Flores said as he stared at his car. "It looks like it's totaled."

Amaris Castillo, law enforcement/island reporter, can be reached at 941-745-7051. Follow her on Twitter@AmarisCastillo.

This story was originally published December 2, 2015 at 7:15 PM with the headline "Woman hospitalized in 3-vehicle crash in Bradenton ."