AN ELDERLY SARASOTA MAN WAS CHARGED IN AN ACCIDENT IN SARASOTA YESTERDAY. THE FLORIDA HIGHWAY PATROL SAYS 86 YEAR OLD HARRY BRUNKEN WAS WESTBOUND IN THE OUTSIDE LEFT TURN LANE OF BEE RIDGE ROAD AT THE INTERSECTION WITH CATTLEMAN ROAD WITH A STEADY GREEN LIGHT JUST BEFORE 4:45PM. AN SUV DRIVEN BY 49 YEAR OLD GAIL HAUSLER OF SARASOTA WAS EASTBOUND IN THE INSIDE TURN LANE OF BEE RIDGE APPROACHING CATTLEMAN WITH A STEADY GREEN LIGHT. TROOPERS SAY BRUNKEN CHANGED COURSE AND ATTEMPTED TO CROSS BEE RIDGE FROM THE OUTSIDE LEFT TURN LANE, WHICH HAD A STEADY RED TRAFFIC SIGNAL, WHICH CAUSED THE ACCIDENT. HAUSLER WAS TAKEN TO SARASOTA MEMORIAL HOSPITAL WITH MINOR INJURIES, WHILE A PASSENGER IN BRUNKEN’S CAR, 75 YEAR OLD CAROL CHEEK WAS TREATED AT THE SCENE FOR MINOR INJURIES. TROOPERS CITED BRUNKEN WITH VIOLATION OF THE RIGHT OF WAY.
