GULFPORT, Fla. — Two people remain hospitalized after an electric scooter ride ended in a hit-and-run Friday night, authorities said.
The Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office reported that at around 7:20 p.m., multiple 911 calls came in regarding two people lying in the street at the intersection of Gulfport Boulevard and Luana Lane South.
The victims, Michael Lynch, 61, and Kristen Lynch, 42, were riding east in the curb lane on an electric scooter when a vehicle struck them from behind and fled the scene.
Two days later, deputies arrested 77-year-old Eugenijus Sviderskas in connection to the crash. He reportedly admitted to driving a red 1997 Ford Econoline van and acknowledged hearing a loud thud but did not stop.
Authorities charged Sviderskas with two counts of fleeing the scene causing serious bodily injury and tampering with physical evidence. One victim is in stable condition, while the other remains critical but stable.
Local residents expressed concern over speeding in the area, despite a 35-mph limit, and emergency responders arrived quickly following the crash. Mike Leary, a nearby resident, said, “People come around this curve here at 45, 50 mph at all times.”
In St. Petersburg, electric scooter rules require riders to avoid sidewalks, limit one rider per scooter, and stay in bike lanes on streets with speed limits of 30 mph or below. Gulfport city officials said they are awaiting the conclusion of the police investigation before considering changes to scooter safety regulations.
