Palmetto man charged with driving drunk, killing motorcyclist

MANATEE -- A Palmetto man has been charged with drunken driving after knocking a 20-year-old woman off the motorcycle she was riding and killing her about 10:29 p.m. Friday, according to Florida Highway Patrol.

Two motorcycles were in the northbound left-turn lane of U.S. 41 at 37th Street Court East in Palmetto when a Kia Sportage driven by Timothy Alan Vaughan, 37, swerved into the lane and struck one of the motorcycles, which then rear-ended the other motorcycle, according to a news release.

Alexandria Marler, a passenger on the second motorcycle, fell off the bike and was hit by Vaughan's car, according to FHP. Marler, who was not wearing a helmet, was pronounced dead at Blake Medical Center.

The driver of the motorcycle she was riding suffered minor injuries. Two people on the other motorcycle were not hurt, FHP reported.

Vaughn, uninjured, was arrested on charges of DUI manslaughter and DUI with property damage. He was held without bond.

This story was originally published May 7, 2016 at 4:52 PM with the headline "Palmetto man charged with driving drunk, killing motorcyclist ."