TAMPA, Fla. — A man accused of driving under the influence in a crash that killed a man this week was denied bond Saturday.

  • Runner struck, killed by speeding truck on Bayshore Blvd in Tampa
  • Benjamin Douglas Ehas, 31, arrested and charged with DUI mansalughter
  • Speed limit had been reduced in that stretch of Bayshore after 2018 fatal pedestrian crash

George Gage, 70, was struck and killed by a pickup truck while running on Bayshore near Julia Street just after 11 a.m. Thursday.

The driver of the truck, Benjamin Douglas Ehas, 31, was arrested Friday night and charged with DUI manslaughter and vehicular homicide.

Tampa police said Ehas had a blood-alcohol content level of 0.234 at the time of the crash. That is three times the legal limit. 

Ehas went before a judge Saturday, where a judge denied his bond and set a pretrial detention hearing for Wednesday.

The State Attorney's Office also filed a pretrial detention motion Monday to keep Ehas in jail through his trial.

According to witnesses, the Pinch a Penny pool supply truck was traveling at about 60 mph when the crash happened. The speed limit has been lowered to 35 mph in that part of Bayshore. 

The driver of the truck, Benjamin Douglas Ehas, 31, was arrested Wednesday night and charged with DUI manslaughter and vehicular homicide. (Hillsborough County Jail)

The runner was struck and knocked into the water. Witnesses jumped into the water to render aid. The man, whose name is not being released due to Marsy's Law, later died at an area hospital. 

Meanwhile, the truck smashed into the balustrade along the sidewalk. The heavy damage remained early Thursday morning.

"Every single day I'm down here I see cars just bailing up and down the road," said resident Sharyn Gallant. "A year and a half ago when that last accident happened I saw a lot more police presence out here, I wish there were more now." 

Speeding has been a problem on Bayshore Blvd. and the speed limit was reduced in May of 2018 after a 24-year-old mother was hit and killed while pushing her child in a stroller across the street. 

The 21-month-old child was injured and died the following day.  Three people were charged with drag racing in the deadly crash.