SEMINOLE, Fla. – A Good Samaritan act turned into a nightmare Sunday morning when an elderly man was struck by a pickup truck while trying to move a turtle out of harm’s way.
According to Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office investigators, the incident occurred around 8:44 a.m. on May 24, 2026. A 2010 Toyota Tacoma, driven by 37-year-old Jake Gauthier, was traveling westbound on 80th Avenue North.
As Gauthier passed the 11201 block of 80th Avenue North, 74-year-old Charles McFall stepped directly into the road. Deputies report that McFall was attempting to remove a turtle from the roadway when Gauthier’s truck struck him, throwing him to the ground.
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Emergency crews rushed McFall to a local hospital, where medical staff listed him in life-threatening but stable condition. Gauthier did not suffer any injuries in the collision.
Members of the Sheriff’s Office Major Accident Investigation Team (MAIT) are handling the active case. Investigators noted early on that neither speeding nor driver impairment appear to be factors in the crash. The investigation remains ongoing.
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