Sugar Creek Country Club Parking Lot Crash Kills Three
Three people were killed, and five people injured Sunday from an accident at the Sugar Creek Country Club in east Bradenton.
The accident occurred at 11a.m. February 2nd in the parking lot of the Sugar Creek Country Club, an over 55 residential community.
Residents of Sugar Creek use the clubhouse as a church Sundays, and had begun to gather and socialize in the parking lot outside after services had concluded. Shortly after 11a.m. the driver of a 2009 Chevrolet Tahoe SUV attempting to back out of a parking space in front of the clubhouse apparently lost control of the vehicle and accelerated sharply in reverse across the parking lot.
As the SUV speed in reverse across the lot it slammed into the crowd of churchgoers running over several people before crashing through shrubs and trees and plunging into a lake. The SUV finally stopped after being in several feet of water on the embankment.
Three people were killed and four others suffered serious injures from the impact.
The pedestrians killed in the accident were 72 year old Margaret Vanderlaan from Bradenton, 80 year old Johanna Dijkhoff from Bradnton and 70 year old Wilhemina Paul, also from Bradenton.
Nellie Vlasma and Nelly Deporter were taken to Blake Medical Center for treatment and Michael Claus and Fred Eringa were brought to Manatee Memorial Hospital.
About the Author
Education
Bernard F. Walsh graduated from the University of South Florida before receiving his law degree from Cumberland School of Law in 1978. During law school, he was selected to serve as a research clerk and intern for a Federal Judge and the U.S. Attorney's Office. He was awarded The National Book Awards for Constitutional Law and Professional Responsibility during law school.
Experience
Bernard Walsh devoted the next three years to trial work for the State of Florida. This provided him with the opportunity to concentrate on his trial abilities, with numerous high profile trials concerning serious felony crimes. Since 1982, he has exclusively practiced personal injury law and helped accident victims in and beyond Sarasota and Manatee Counties in Florida.
Mr. Walsh has been listed in Avvo, an attorney rating site, as Superb. LexisNexis/Martindale-Hubbell, an attorneys rating publication, has rated Mr. Walsh as very high legal ability and ethical standards. Mr. Walsh is listed in National Trial Lawyers Association as one of the Top 100 Trial Lawyers, and was inducted into Southern Trial Lawyers Association. He has also won the largest playground recoveries, one of the top three motorcycle recoveries, and the second largest daycare center recovery in the State of Florida. He is also a member of the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum. The Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum is a group of attorneys who have achieved career case successes that include multi-million dollar recoveries, settlements and/or verdicts.
