New Smyrna Beach cops: Two pedestrians struck in crosswalk by city public works employee at the intersections of 27th & South Atlantic avenues

By HENRY FREDERICK / Headline Surfer

NEW SMYRNA BEACH, Fla. -- Two pedestrians were struck by a city public works employee truck while in a crosswalk at the intersection of 27th and South Atlantic avenues, police said, with scant few details in a press release just after 10 a.m. today.

New Smyrna Beach cops did not release the name of the city's public works employee, the type of vehicle involved, nor the extent of injuries to the two pedestrians.

New Smyrna Beach cops did not release the name of the city's public works employee, the type of vehicle involved, nor the extent of injuries to the two pedestrians.

Here is what New Smyrna Beach Police released in a press release on social media: 

"This morning, a City of New Smyrna Beach Public Works employee was involved in a traffic crash at the intersection of 27th Avenue and South Atlantic Avenue. The employee was traveling eastbound on 27th Avenue and turning left onto South Atlantic Avenue when the vehicle struck two pedestrians who were in the crosswalk. Emergency crews arrived quickly, and the individuals involved were transported for medical treatment. The Florida Highway Patrol is responding to conduct a full investigation into the circumstances of the crash. The City of New Smyrna Beach is cooperating fully with FHP and will support their investigation in every way possible. Our thoughts are with the individuals who were injured, their families, and everyone affected by this incident. As this is an active investigation, no additional details are available at this time."

Inquiries to City manager Kevin Cowper and Fred Cleveland about the incident as well as who was driving th city vehicle went unanswered. Calls were also made to Phillip Veski and to Ava Hanner, the city's PIO and NSBPD's PIO. Veski referred the matter to Hanner and she referred it to the Florida Highway Patrol. Neither provided any details beyond what was contained in the city's press release. 

Lieutenant Tara Crescenzi of the Florida Highway Patrol said there was nothing further to release at this time as the metter was under investigation, and referred Headline Surfer back to New Smyrna Beach for further information.

Henry Frederick press card / Headline SurferAbout the Byline Writer: 
Henry Frederick is an award-winning journalist who launched Headline Surfer in 2008. The site serves the greater Daytona Beach, Sanford, and Orlando areas along the I-4 corridor and beyond via HeadlineSurfer.com in Lake Mary, Florida. Frederick earned his Master of Arts in New Media Journalism from Full Sail University in Orlando in 2019. He was a breaking news reporter (metro cops & courts beat) for the Daytona Beach News-Journal for nearly a decade, and before that, the same beat with The Journal-News/Gannett Suburban Newspapers in Rockland/Westchester counties, NY, dating back to 1989. He's also worked as a city editor and city hall reporter for two dailies. Having witnessed the execution of serial killer Aileen Wuornos in Florida's death chamber and covering other high-profile cases, Frederick has appeared on national crime documentary shows on Discovery ID, Reelz & the Oxygen Network series "Snapped" for his analysis. Assisting Henry Frederick with Headline Surfer is Sera King, who writes about the weather and feature stories, takes photos, shoots video, and occasionally draws editorial cartoons. •  Bio: https://henryfrederick.com/.