DUNEDIN – Pinellas County Sheriff’s Major Accident Investigation Team is investigating a fatal bicycle crash that happened on the Dunedin Causeway about 4:17: p.m. Sunday, Nov. 4.
According to deputies, Henry J. Ellowitz, 69, of Clearwater was riding a bicycle traveling eastbound on Causeway Boulevard and beginning his descent from the top of the drawbridge. Deputies say as he was riding, it appears he struck a tree branch, which became lodged between the spokes of the front tire of the bike. The branch locked the front tire and Ellowitz was vaulted over the handlebars.
Witnesses in two different vehicle heading in the same direction of travel as Ellowitz stopped immediately, exited their vehicles and approached to assist. Deputies say Jill Kurtzke, 53, of Dunedin, a Certified Nurse Assistant and David Rogers, 41, of Tampa, an EMT, found Ellowitz unresponsive, began CPR and continued until Dunedin Fire Rescue paramedics arrived on scene.
Ellowitz was transported by ambulance to Mease Dunedin Hospital, where he was pronounced deceased at 5:16 p.m. Ellowitz was wearing a helmet.
Both directions of the Causeway were shut down for approximately 20 minutes. M.A.I.T. responded and along with a patrol deputy were able to open the bridge using one lane of travel until the on-scene investigation was complete.
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