Man arrested after GMD crash

Police arrested a man for driving on a suspended license after a crash in which a 90-year-old woman sustained minor injuries yesterday morning.

According to a Longboat Key police report, Billy Atchley, 45, of Sarasota, told police that he dropped his cell phone on his Ford truck’s floorbed and was trying to retrieve it when he drove into the vehicle of Louise Rich, of Bradenton and formerly of Longboat Key, around the 5300 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive near the Centre Shops.

Firefighter/paramedics transported Rich to Blake Memorial Hospital in Bradenton.

Atchley, who was not injured, told police that his license was suspended and that he should not have been driving. Police confirmed that his license had been suspended on multiple occasions for failing to pay traffic fines, license expiration and driving with a suspended license.

Police issued Atchley citations for careless driving and driving with a suspended license and transported him to the Manatee County jail.

Police were on scene for more than six hours.

Contact Robin Hartill at [email protected].