A man in a wheelchair was killed after being hit by a truck on Missouri Avenue in Clearwater on Thursday afternoon.

  • Man in wheelchair dies after being hit by truck
  • Man was trying to cross Missouri Ave. in Clearwater

Clearwater police officers and firefighters responded to the scene at about 2 p.m. Officials said James F. Thompson, 73, was crossing S. Missouri Avenue in a motorized wheelchair from west to east when he was struck by a northbound pickup truck. 

Thompson was taken to Bayfront Health St. Petersburg, where he died, according to Clearwater Police.

Officials said the driver of the pickup truck, William J. Whitehurst, 51, will likely not be charged because he had the right of way and immediately pulled over after hitting the wheelchair. 

"Our preliminary investigation shows that he was crossing against the light. So, he had a red light but went ahead and crossed the intersection and a northbound pickup truck that had the green light unfortunately did not see him in time to avoid him and struck him," Officer Rob Shaw said.