COCOA BEACH, Florida — On Saturday, August 10, 2013 at approximately 10:23pm, Cocoa Beach Police responded to a crash at the intersection of North Atlantic Avenue (State Road A1A) and South Shepard Drive.
The crash involved a pickup truck and two pedestrians who were attempting to cross SR A1A. One of the pedestrians was transported to Cape Canaveral Hospital where he was pronounced deceased. The other pedestrian was airlifted to Holmes Regional Medical Center in Melbourne where she succumbed to her injuries.
The driver of the pick-up truck, 33-year-old Robert Coffman of Cape Canaveral, was not injured. Police are not releasing the names of the victims pending notification of next of kin.
The crash is still under investigation and no charges have been filed at this time.
The intersection is one of three in Cocoa Beach that is monitored by red light cameras 24-hours a day. The cameras, operated by American Traffic Solutions, capture images of every vehicle entering an intersection after the traffic signal is already red.
Anyone with information pertinent to this investigation is urged to contact the Cocoa Beach Police Department at (321)868-3251.
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Very tragic indeed. It'll be interesting to see if this driver was distracted or DUI as the investigation unfolds. Just another sign that red light scameras do nothing to prevent these types of crashes - they just record them.
RIP Terri you will be missed
@anonymous...that was kind of a stupid statement..Of course these cameras are making drivers think twice as they are approaching/ running a red light & it was a good thing this was recorded,more to prove...its a good thing!!!
@anonymous reply: ".that was kind of a stupid statement..Of course these cameras are making drivers think twice as they are approaching/ running a red light & it was a good thing this was recorded,more to prove...its a good thing!!!"This is where critical thinking skills come in to play. Red light scameras are leased for $4000 to $5000 per camera, per month. The same incident could (or probably was) have been recorded by regular traffic monitoring cameras, which are posted at most major intersections in Florida (just like surveillance cameras in a store, for example) for a fraction of the cost of a red light scamera. Sadly, red light scameras have everything to do with revenue and very little to do with safety. Studies show that virtually all red light running violations that result in crashes are those in which the driver was distracted or DUI, and the light was 2+ seconds in to the red phase. A camera on a pole will never prevent those types of crashes. Again, as far as evidence being recorded to prove what happened in this case - that can be done at a fraction of the cost of a red light scamera by a regular traffic monitoring camera.
Traffic homicide cases are always tough ones for all involved. My first thoughts go out to the next of kin and the first responders.Someone here is making use of what I've written elsewhere, but that is OK with me. They are correct. As a retired trooper, I worked crashes of this nature and the cause was either distraction or impairment. One of the first traffic homicide cases I worked was a Jeep that ran a red light and hit a Camaro, killing the Camaro's driver. The Jeep driver was DUI.No device on a pole out of the driver's line of sight will magically awaken/sober them when they cannot see one or more large red lights that are in their line of sight.
I'm from the UK on vacation and thankfully just missed witnessing this tragedy last night however it astounds me how many drivers in Florida are distracted using their mobile phones whilst driving. With today's technology in Bluetooth devices there is no excuse! In the UK it is a $120 fine plus 3 points on your license (12pts equals a license ban). The cost of a Bluetooth device does not compare to the loss of life by these innocent people and their families.
How long is it going to take the average person in Florida to realize that red light cameras were never designed to prevent most dangerous intersection crashes. They are designed to make money mostly from safe drivers who commit small technical fouls that do not endanger anyone, but cost $158 each. About $100 million was confiscated with cameras last year, most of it from safe drivers.James C. Walker, Life Member-National Motorists Association
The female victim was my wife, Dawn Flint. I can see from the video that her bag is just off the curb. Green light or not, pedestrians have the right-of-way. This is far from being over.
My deepest sympathies to you, sir. People who have not experienced a loss like this have no idea what you are going through. The best advice I can offer you is to forgive. No amount of money or pain caused to the driver of the pickup will bring your wife back. If you make your life mission to make his life miserable then you yourself will just be miserable. This was a tragic accident, but it was just that, an accident, from my understanding there was no negligence on the part of the driver of the pickup (not DUI). Cherish the memories with your wife and let God lead you through life right now. I am sure that you feel like your life has been ruined, but trying to go after the driver of the pickup for all he has will only make you miserable with money.... Just because your life feels like it is over, don't do the same to another young man. Find it in your heart to forgive, and do your best to move on, never forgetting your wife but honoring her by being a man who doesn't want to ruin another families life..... I promise, no amount of money can bring the peace and closure that you need. The only thing that can do that is love and forgiveness. Your and your family will remain in my prayers.
Very tragic indeed. It'll be interesting to see if this driver was distracted or DUI as the investigation unfolds. Just another sign that red light scameras do nothing to prevent these types of crashes - they just record them.