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Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Street Crash Kills Moped Rider

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The scooter, which was not running and had no lights, was being towed, St. Petersburg police said.

ST. PETERSBURG – A man who was riding a moped that was being towed by an SUV died of injuries he received in a traffic crash on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Street S, the St. Petersburg Police Department said.

Nathanial Vancleave, 30, died at Bayfront Health St. Petersburg where he was taken after the crash.

The crash happened about 10 p.m. Monday (Jan. 7) at the intersection of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Street S and Melrose Avenue in St. Petersburg.

Police said a 2002 Mazda minivan, driven by Thomas Alexander, 74, was traveling south on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Street in the median lane. A 1999 GMC Yukon driven by Delanard Matthews Jr., 17, was traveling north on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Street in the center left turn lane preparing to turn onto Melrose. Mr. Vancleave was riding a 2011 scooter that was being towed behind the GMC with a towing strap. The scooter was nonoperational and had no lights on.

The GMC made a left hand turn onto Melrose safely, but the scooter was not able to clear the southbound lanes of travel in time and was hit by the Mazda. Mr. Vancleave was thrown from the scooter. He was not wearing a helmet or any other protective equipment.

Citations are pending the completion of the investigation, police said.

St. Petersburg Police | Nathanial Vancleave | Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Street Crash | Tampabay News

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