Main Menu

Motorcyclist Dead, Passenger Critically Injured in U.S. 301 Collision

Police Lights | Florida | TB Reporter

A pickup truck drove into the path of the motorcycle, according to FHP troopers. Alcohol was not involved in the crash.

PASCO COUNTY – A Dade City man died Sunday (March 10) in a traffic crash on U.S. 301, the Florida Highway Patrol said.

Markus Cody Rutland, 22, of Dade City, died at the scene. His passenger, Shelby Lynn Powell, 20, also of Dade City, was taken to St. Joseph’s Main Hospital in critical condition.

No one else was injured in the crash.

The crash happened about 8:30 p.m. at the intersection of U.S. 301 and Pioneer Museum Road in Pasco County.

Troopers said John Eric Belcher, 30, of Dade City, was driving a 1994 Chevrolet K1500 west on Pioneer Museum Road. Belcher stopped at the stop sign at U.S. 301 then proceeded west across the northbound lanes of U.S. 301 and into the path of the 2005 Kawasaki Ninja ZX that Mr. Rutland was driving.

Alcohol was not a factor in the crash.

Charges are pending, troopers said.

Florida Highway Patrol | U.S. 301 Crash | Markus Cody Rutland | Tampabay News

#FloridaHighwayPatrol #US301Crash #MarkusCodyRutland #TampabayNews