MAN INJURED CROSSING BUSY ROAD IN SARASOTA

A SARASOTA MAN WAS INJURED AS HE TRIED TO WALK ACROSS A BUSY SARASOTA INTERSECTION LAST NIGHT.  THE FLORIDA HIGHWAY PATROL SAY 51 YEAR OLD RICHARD MAREK WAS WALKING NORTH ATTEMPTING TO CROSS BAHIA VISTA STREET FROM BENEVA ROAD AT AROUND 10PM WHEN HE WAS STRUCK BY A LEXUS DRIVEN BY 46 YEAR OLD DAVID MERTZLUFFT OF SARASOTA.  TROOPERS SAY MAREK WAS NOT IN A CROSSWALK WHEN HE WAS HIT.  HE WAS BAYFLITED TO BAYFRONT MEDICAL CENTER IN ST. PETERSBURG IN SERIOUS CONDITION.  MERTZLUFFT WAS NOT INJURED.  TROOPERS SAY ALCOHOL WAS NOT A FACTOR AND CHARGES MAY BE PENDING THE COMPLETION OF THEIR INVESTIGATION.