***Update as of October 15, 2021***

PINELLAS COUNTY – On Friday, October 15, 2021, the bicyclist involved in this crash, Sherry Nowotarski, has succumbed to her injuries.

Sherry was an 11 year veteran of the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office. She was an Administrative Assistant within our Community Policing Unit and will be sorely missed.

***End of update***

***Original news release below***

Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office
Patrol Operations Bureau
-Major Accident Investigation Team

Indian Shores Police Department

Sherry Nowotarski (Bicyclist – Critical Condition)
PCSO employee hired 11/1/10
Vehicle: Bicycle

Lenon Ashford (Driver)
DOB: 07/10/1980
Address: 2965 Janet Circle Apt C, Columbus, Ohio
Vehicle: 2015 Dodge Dart         

PINELLAS COUNTY – On October 13, 2021, at approximately 6:07 a.m, deputies assigned to the Major Accident Investigation Team (MAIT) responded to the Park Boulevard Bridge to investigate a vehicle versus bicyclist crash.

According to investigators, 60-year-old bicyclist Sherry Nowotarski was riding her bicycle westbound over the bridge, when she lost control of the bicycle and fell into the curb lane. Investigators say 41-year-old Lenon Ashford was driving a 2015 Dodge Dart westbound over the bridge. Ashford was unable to avoid hitting Nowotarski and struck her with the passenger side of his vehicle.  

Nowotarski was transported to Bayfront Hospital where she is in critical condition with life-threatening injuries.

Speed and impairment do not appear to be factors in this crash.

Nowotarski is a civilian employee at the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office and was hired November 1, 2010.

The investigation continues.