Seven-Year-Old Child Killed While Walking on the Sidewalk in Palmetto

By Orlando Personal Injury Attorney on March 29, 2022

The family and friends of a 7-year-old boy are hopefully feeling a small sense of relief this week after authorities with the Palmetto Police Department arrested the 35-year-old man who allegedly struck and killed the child while driving under the influence last Wednesday night.

According to early investigations by detectives with the Palmetto Police Department, it was approximately 6:45 p.m. on March 23, 2022, when 7-year-old James Patrick Linzi was walking with his father down the sidewalk of 8th Avenue West after leaving their martial arts class at No Limits Jiu-Jitsu. As the two individuals approached the vicinity of 4th Street West close to the Green Bridge, a 35-year-old Parrish resident Aaron Naylor, entered the area while erratically driving a van.

Reports from local authorities indicate that Naylor, who was later found to be under the influence of illegal drugs, including meth and Xanax, collided with a light pole and traffic sign right before his vehicle left the roadway and crashed into the 7-year-old victim and his dad.

Multiple law enforcement members from the Palmetto Police Department, as well as officers with the Bradenton Police Department, arrived at the scene of the deadly pedestrian accident within a matter of minutes and found that both family members required emergency medical treatment. The two victims were immediately transported to Tampa General Hospital, however, due to the severe nature of his injuries, the 7-year-old boy was unable to survive and he sadly passed away. The father received minor injuries during the fatal collision and is expected to make a full recovery.

The 35-year-old driver of the van also sustained minor injuries and was taken to the Manatee Memorial Hospital. Upon his release, Naylor was arrested and taken to the Manatee County Jail on several drug and DWI charges.

A GoFundMe account has been created by the victim’s godmother in order to help the family with medical and funeral expenses. “We are asking for your donations to help our friends Alex and Meghann with whatever they may need while they are grieving the loss of their child. We are sending lots of prayers and love their way.”

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.