Fatal crash occurs on Beach Road
A 23-year-old Sarasota man died early June 7 when his car struck a utility pole and then a tree on Beach Road, west of Avenida Del Mare along the edge of the public beach parking lot.
The single-car accident occurred at 2:07 a.m. The sedan was traveling at a high rate of speed and lost control at a curve in the road. The driver, who was ejected from the car when it overturned, was not wearing a seat belt, Florida Highway Patrol reports. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
His passenger, also a 23-year-old Sarasota man, sustained critical injuries and was taken to an area hospital.
Both lanes of Beach Road were closed until 7:30 a.m. the morning of the incident.
The crash remains under investigation.
Rainford appointed to vacant Sarasota County commission seat
Neil Rainford has been appointed by Gov. Ron DeSantis to fill the Sarasota County Commission seat that became vacant after the passing of long-time community leader Commissioner Nancy Detert in April, Sarasota County officials report.
The District 3 seat covers Venice and parts of Nokomis and North Port.
The seat is up for re-election in 2024. Rainford took the oath of office June 13 and participated in that day’s commission meeting.
Rainford, 36, is a senior executive with Sarasota-based Mullet’s Aluminum Products.
“Assuming the seat of a legend like Nancy Detert won’t be easy, but I’m honored to be entrusted by Gov. DeSantis with this appointment to the Sarasota County Commission,” Rainford said. “We are consistently ranked as one of the top communities in the nation in which to live. So, we are already doing a lot right.”
But he said there are ongoing needs in Sarasota County, and his priorities will be infrastructure, business climate and workforce housing.
He already has experience in local government and the community. He is a current member of the Sarasota County Planning Commission and was an elected member of the Charter Review Board. He has also been twice elected secretary of the Republican Executive Committee.
Daytime structure fire extinguished at Point of Rocks Road dwelling
A two-alarm structure fire at a house in the 1000 block of Point of Rocks Road received a response from the Sarasota County Fire Department on June 5.
The call came in at around 12:57 p.m. Crews on the scene reported heavy smoke upon arrival and declared a working fire. The fire was out by 1:42 p.m. It was deemed to be an electrical fire and no injuries were reported.
Sheriff reports 10% decline in spring break incidents
The Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office is crediting an increase in officer presence during the 2023 spring break on Siesta Key for what it reports as a 10% decline in incidents when compared to 2022.
The total number of incidents handled this year was 923, compared to 1,020 last year. And the number of arrests made this year was 42, compared to 46 last year.
Siesta Promenade’s new plans go before county planners July 20
The Sarasota County Planning Commission’s review of the revised plans for the Siesta Promenade project has been set for 5 p.m. July 20 at the county’s Administration Center, 1660 Ringling Blvd.
It had originally been set for June 15.
Benderson Development recently revised its plans, calling for another review. The project was originally approved in 2018.
The Sarasota Board of County Commissioners is scheduled to conduct its vote Aug. 30.
The project, located at the northwest corner of U.S. 41 and Stickney Point Road, will feature 414 apartments and/or condominiums, a 130-room hotel, 133,000 square feet of retail space, and 7,000 square feet of office space.
Author: Siesta Sand