Tampa Father Dies After Being Pinned Under A Truck

By Orlando Personal Injury Attorney on November 9, 2015

In a truly tragic accident on October 24th, 2015, a man out for a walk with his two young children was struck and pinned by an errant vehicle, killing him. Thankfully, the two children survived the incident completely unharmed.

The man, 40-year-old Maurice Savalas Harris, was taking his kids for a walk near St. Joseph’s Hospital in Tampa when two vehicles, a black 2012 GMC pickup truck and a silver 2000 Ford minivan, collided on the eastbound side of the road, crossing over the median. The pickup truck jumped the nearby curb, hit a large sign and continued into the driveway of the medical arts building near which Harris was standing. Harris was pinned beneath the truck and died at the scene as a result of his injuries.

The driver of the pickup truck, Bryce O’Neill, and the driver of the minivan, Toshia McPherson, have so far not been charged with any crimes. Authorities have stated that charges may eventually be filed, but the investigation is still pending while detectives try to determine what exactly caused O’Neill’s vehicle to leave the roadway and collide with McPherson’s. During this time, the scene of the incident at the intersection of West Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. and Habana Ave. will remain closed.

Of course, there is no question as to how this will affect Harris’s children, who were present when he was struck and killed. Regardless of the wreckage that careened across the road and into their father’s path, family and friends of the deceased are understandably relieved that the children’s lives were spared in the incident. Perhaps most amazingly, witnesses to the crash have reported that this wasn’t simply luck; Maurice Harris, in his instinct as a father, was seen pushing his daughters out of the way before he was hit. Now, community members are referring to Harris as a hero. In the wake of this incident, a GoFundMe page has been set up to help support the family during this difficult time.

If you’ve been injured in a similar accident or are a family member dealing with what you believe to be a wrongful death, you may be dealing with significant medical bills, legal concerns, and mental and emotional stress. During this difficult time, you may have difficulty knowing where to turn. For nearly 40 years, personal injury attorney James Cunningham has been helping victims of severe car accidents deal with their cases and fight for their legal rights. For a free initial consultation, contact us today at 877-FL-INJURY (877-354-6587).

James O. Cunningham

Since 1977, personal injury lawyer James Cunningham has provided effective legal advocacy to people who are injured through the negligent actions of another person or entity throughout the Central Florida area. He fights to obtain recoveries for his clients’ physical and emotional pain and suffering and pursues his clients’ personal injury cases with a commitment to excellence and impeccable preparation.