John Paul Guekunst, 41, died of injuries sustained when he was struck while attempting to cross U.S. Highway 19 late Friday. He was not in a crosswalk, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
A Palm Harbor man is dead after being struck during his attempt to walk across U.S. Highway 19 Friday evening.
John Paul Guekunst, 41, died of his injuries on the scene, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
The driver of the vehicle, Shannon M. Johnson, 22, of Belleair, was traveling north in a 1999 Mitsubishi Eclipse in the inside center lane on U.S. 19. Guekunst was walking across the split, eight-lane highway from east to west just before 7:30 p.m., according to a preliminary report from Florida Highway Patrol.
Johnson's vehicle struck Guekunst head-on just as Johnson's vehicle was approaching Highlands Boulevard in Palm Harbor.
Guekunst was not in a crosswalk, Florida Highway Patrol reports.
Johnson's Mitsubishi Eclipse sustained $2,500 in damages, authorities estimate. Johnson was wearing a seat belt and blood-alcohol test results are still pending, according to the preliminary FHP report.
The investigation is ongoing.
Jayne Krakowiak
10:11 am on Saturday, December 8, 2012
Sincere regrets to John's friends and family. US 19 is not an easy road to negotiate and both drivers and pedestrians must be highly vigilant. Please remember no matter how you are travelling on this road: stay off your iPad, phones, etc. and keep your attention on the road. The life you save may be your own.
Jo Hicks
12:07 pm on Sunday, December 9, 2012
Jayne and Walt Kowalski, I agree. All of us will die a horrible death due to these iPads, cell phones.., and all the hi-tech devices. I live in the area and passed by, I thought it was sad how long the pedestrian's body laid on the cold concrete ground before he was removed. I told my grandchildren, if I get hit and killed drag me to the curb and put me on the grass. Even the deceased has a right to some degree of respect. Thank God, and Maria I have a car now
Denise Humenchuk Mercer
10:22 am on Saturday, December 8, 2012
Thoughts and Prayers to the Family and Friends of this selfless man....a true hero in my eyes!
luella f
12:01 pm on Saturday, December 8, 2012
Did I miss something? I feel sorry for the person who died, but was there a hero in all of this?
Jenny S
9:27 pm on Monday, December 10, 2012
luella f, I think what is missing in this article is the fact that he was helping someone else who has their car stuck in the road. The hero comment is more just because of the person he was, if you knew him you would understand.
Walt Kowalski
12:04 pm on Saturday, December 8, 2012
That was quite a back-up last night. Thanks for the story and like Jayne said, "Please remember no matter how you are travelling on this road: Stay off your iPad, phones, etc. and keep your attention on the road". While I'm not implying that Ms. Johnson did anything wrong in this accident, I'm seeing more and more people playing around with electronic gadgets while driving and doing it with their kids in the car which only validates the behavior in their minds when they start driving. My condolences to both the Guekunst & Johnson families. Either way you look at it, this affects more than one family for a long time. Thirty years after a traffic loss in our family, the pain in still there.
sara freel
12:55 pm on Saturday, December 8, 2012
this man is one of the most selfless men i know. he will be greatly missed, and please pray for his family, and his wife..
Margery Shipp
1:36 pm on Saturday, December 8, 2012
Our prayers to John and Genn and John Pauls Wife.
FS
6:43 pm on Saturday, December 8, 2012
My prayers go out to the family of John. Just keep in mind a young girl will have to deal with this the rest of her life also.
Betty
5:23 am on Sunday, December 9, 2012
Why do people continue to cross US19 without using crosswalks???? I just don't understand. You are rolling the dice. So sad that this man died but, if he had used a crosswalk, he would still be alive.
LORI RUBY
5:27 am on Sunday, December 9, 2012
My prayers go out to the victim that dies as well as the person who hit him. God Bless.
john hickey
2:33 pm on Sunday, December 9, 2012
we will miss you john..
Jenny S
9:24 pm on Monday, December 10, 2012
He was not crossing US 19. He and his wife were driving by, saw someone who had their car stuck in the road. He pulled off on a side street and attempted to help the person with the car stuck in the road push it off of US 19. That's the kind of guy he was, couldn't walk or drive past anyone who needed help without stopping to help.