A 59-year-old bicyclist has died from injuries she received in a crash in East Naples over the weekend.
The crash occurred around 9:30 a.m. Saturday in the 2400 block of U.S. 41 East.
According to Collier County Sheriff’s Office traffic crash reports, Julia K. Pitts of Golden Gate was attempting to cross the westbound lanes of U.S. 41 East. when she was struck in the inside lane by a sport utility vehicle driven by Phyllis Sanford Herold, 82, of East Naples.
An investigation revealed that Pitts had been traveling west, in the right bicycle lane, on U.S. 41 East. Herold had been traveling west on U.S. 41 East in the right lane of travel. Just west of Pine Street, Pitts was attempting to cross the three travel lanes of westbound U.S. 41 East Pitts raised her left hand out, as if to signal her intention to change lanes to the left.
Pitts rode directly in front of the vehicle being driven by Herold. Pitts then entered and crossed the middle lane of travel and then entered the inside lane of travel in the path of Herold’s vehicle, which had been traveling west on U.S. 41 East.
Pitts was flown by helicopter to Lee Memorial Hospital, where she died as a result of her injuries Sunday.
No criminal charges will be filed.
