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Two pedestrians killed in separate Pinellas County crashes

 
Christina M. Bayes is charged with leaving the scene of a crash involving a death.
Christina M. Bayes is charged with leaving the scene of a crash involving a death.
Published Nov. 28, 2015

The Thanksgiving weekend got off to a deadly start for pedestrians in Pinellas County.

Two people were killed in unrelated crashes, one on Thanksgiving Day, the other early Friday. The second crash resulted in the arrest of a woman who authorities say left the scene.

In the first incident, Paul Richard Miller, 58, of Madeira Beach was walking home about 7 p.m. Thursday after spending Thanksgiving with family when he was struck by a Jeep Liberty in the 134th block of Gulf Boulevard.

Deputies said Everett Pyle Jr., 80, of St. Petersburg was driving the Jeep when it hit Miller, who wasn't walking in the crosswalk. Pyle's wife, Jean Bayley-Pyle, was a passenger. Neither was injured.

Miller was taken to Palms of Pasadena Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Deputies said neither speed nor alcohol appeared to be factors in the crash.

Six hours later, a 39-year-old man died after being hit by a GMC sport utility vehicle at the intersection of 34th Street and 54th Avenue N, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

The man was walking in the crosswalk on the south side of the intersection when he was hit about 1 a.m. Friday. Troopers were working to notify relatives and had not released his name by Friday evening.

The driver, 31-year-old Christina M. Bayes of St. Petersburg, fled the scene and was stopped about four blocks away by a Pinellas County sheriff's deputy, troopers said. Bayes was arrested and charged with leaving the scene of a crash involving a death. She remained in the Pinellas County Jail on Friday in lieu of $10,000 bail.

State records show Bayes has been arrested 10 times in Florida. She was released from prison in October 2012 after serving 29 months for burglary, criminal mischief and drug possession and trafficking.

Times news researcher Caryn Baird contributed to this report. Contact Tony Marrero at tmarrero@tampabay.com or (727) 893-8779. Follow @tmarrerotimes.