Vehicle crushes scooter, injures driver

A Bradenton teenager was seriously injured in a crash late Thursday night off University Parkway and Whitfield Avenue.

A Florida High Patrol report states Robert Torez, 19, was taken to Blake Memorial Hospital around 10 p.m. Feb. 23, after the scooter on which he was riding was struck by a vehicle behind him.

A 2004 SUV driven by Christine Cassanelli, 47, of Sarasota, was driving behind Torez on University Parkway. Both were heading westbound in the right turn lane when Cassanelli's vehicle struck the rear of the scooter.

Torez was ejected onto the shoulder of University Parkway and the SUV continued westbound, coming to a final rest with the scooter underneath it, the report states.

Cassanelli sustained no injuries.

Contact Pam Eubanks at [email protected].