Teen cyclist struck and killed in Ruskin

RUSKIN — An 18-year-old female bicyclist was hit by a vehicle and killed Monday afternoon while crossing U.S. 41 near SW 14th Avenue, the Florida Highway Patrol said.

Troopers say the victim, Jessica Wortman, was headed west across U.S. 41 and rode into the path of a Chrysler PT Cruiser driven by Exuperancio Paderog Potane, 51, of Ruskin. She died at the scene.

Wortman, who the patrol said was not a high school student, was coming from the Ruskin Recreation Center.

The southbound lanes of U.S. 41 were closed near the scene of the accident, which occurred at 2:04 p.m. The crash remains under investigation.