Bicyclist hospitalized after getting crushed by van

TAMPA -- A Tampa man is in critical condition after he was struck and run over by a minivan on Hillsborough Avenue Saturday night, according to a Florida Highway Patrol release.

The man, who has not been identified by FHP investigators, was stopped on the south side of the eastbound lane of Hillsborough, just west of 56th Street. He attempted to dismount his bike and fell into the road just as a 2004 Ford Freestar was approaching, followed by a 1994 Ford Explorer.

The driver of the Freestar, 46-year-old Ida M. Finley, attempted to brake but struck the cyclist, who landed on the hood of the van. At the same time, the Explorer's driver, 22-year-old William W. Bassett, rear-ended the van, which caused the cyclist to fall off the van's hood and into the street. The impact of the Explorer's crash pushed the van forward, causing Finley to run over the cyclist.

-- Times staff writer

TAMPA -- A Tampa man is in critical condition after he was struck and run over by a minivan on Hillsborough Avenue Saturday night, according to a Florida Highway Patrol release.

The man, who has not been identified by FHP investigators, was stopped on the south side of the eastbound lane of Hillsborough, just west of 56th Street. He attempted to dismount his bike and fell into the road just as a 2004 Ford Freestar was approaching, followed by a 1994 Ford Explorer.

The driver of the Freestar, 46-year-old Ida M. Finley, attempted to brake but struck the cyclist, who landed on the hood of the van. At the same time, the Explorer's driver, 22-year-old William W. Bassett, rear-ended the van, which caused the cyclist to fall off the van's hood and into the street. The impact of the Explorer's crash pushed the van forward, causing Finley to run over the cyclist.

-- Times staff writer