Second Woman Dies After Severe Pedestrian Accident in Melbourne

By Orlando Personal Injury Attorney on October 21, 2022

Within the span of just 24 hours, a West Melbourne community suffered the loss of two local women after they died from the injuries they sustained during a severe pedestrian accident earlier this week.

According to preliminary details from the Melbourne Police Department, it was close to 7:15 p.m. on Tuesday, October 18, 2022, when Palm Bay residents 25-year-old Rikki Grace and 26-year-old Megan Grace were walking along the eastern sidewalk that runs parallel to Front Street. As the two pedestrians approached an area between Melbourne Avenue and New Haven Avenue, an out-of-control pickup truck being driven by 29-year-old Satellite Beach resident Robert Mitchell Lueck seemingly appeared from nowhere and slammed into the two women on the sidewalk.

Authorities with the Melbourne Police Department and Brevard County emergency services arrived at the scene of the accident shortly after the first set of 9-1-1 calls were received by dispatchers. Both women were transported to the nearest trauma center in serious condition where the youngest of the two victims, Rikki Grace, passed away from her injuries. Her best friend since childhood, Megan Grace, managed to hold on slightly longer before succumbing to her injuries on Wednesday.

Witnesses to the fatal collision told officers that they saw the pickup truck “drifting” right before the vehicle struck the pedestrians. The driver, Robert Mitchell Lueck, has not faced any legal charges related to the deadly incident since the case is still under investigation by the Melbourne Police Department.

Although the devastating loss of both women will certainly be felt by their families and friends for the rest of their lives, a special tribute to 25-year-old Rikki Grace was posted on social media by Imagine Schools at West Melbourne – a charter school where she worked as a third grade teacher. “It is with great sadness that we are mourning the death of Miss Rikki Grace, who was fatally struck by a car last night. Miss Grace worked at Imagine West Melbourne as our third grade teacher. She was a valued member of our Imagine West Melbourne community for three years and made a lasting impression in the lives of our students,” it read.

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.