Three pedestrians were killed in two separate fatal pedestrian-involved crashes on Friday night, a little more than 15 minutes apart. The first incident occurred at 9:50 p.m. at US-19 and Green Key Road. According to New Port Richey Police, two pedestrians, one male and one female, were killed. Police say that they were likely crossing from the Wing House restaurant back to their room at the Green Key Motel after “picking up food to go.” A post on the New Port Richey Police Department Facebook page details further:

On August 8, 2014 at approximately 2150 hours, officers responded to the area of Green Key Road and US 19 in reference to a vehicle versus pedestrian crash.  Upon arrival, two pedestrians (one male, one female) were pronounced deceased.  Initial investigation reveals that the two pedestrians were crossing from the Wing House back to their room at the Green Key Motel after picking up food to go.  The couple ran across US 19 from west to east and were struck in the right (curb) northbound lane by a vehicle traveling north boundd.  No charges are pending or expected for the driver of the vehicle.  The investigation is continuing.

That accident is under investigation by New Port Richey police.

A separate accident occurred just after 10:00 p.m. in the front of the Dairy Queen on S.R. 54 at Virginia City Drive. The Florida Highway Patrol says that two men, Stacey Arthur Butcher, 42, and Christopher Momier, 24, of Gibsonton, were laying in the “unlit roadway wearing dark clothing” at the time of the accident. They were struck by a Lexus sedan and then a Kia sedan. Butcher was killed and Momier was transported to Bayonet Point hospital with serious injuries.

The vehicle occupants were not injured in either case, and at the time of writing no charges have been brought.

By Jon Tietz