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Homeless Man Killed When Hit By Motorcycle

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By LISA A. DAVIS, The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 15, 2008

BAYONET POINT - A 55-year-old homeless man was killed Sunday night when he was hit by a motorcycle as he was walking across U.S. 19 south of State Road 52.

Steven G. Beyer walked west across the southbound lanes of the highway and into the path of a 2006 Kawasaki at 6 p.m., according to a Florida Highway Patrol report. Motorcyclist James F. Schooler, 36, of Hudson, veered right trying to avoid the man, but Beyer was hit and thrown to the outside southbound lane, the patrol report states.

The Kawasaki stopped on the west shoulder and Schooler's passenger fled the scene for an unknown reason, according to troopers.

Joey Durmire, pastor of First Christian Church of Bayonet Point, said Monday that Beyer had been using the church's food pantry for years and lived in the woods near the crash scene. He came to worship occasionally over those years, but in the past several months he regularly attended Wednesday and Sunday services at the church, 11820 Nature Trail.

"He would show up early and help us serve" at the pantry particularly, Durmire said.
Beyer had recently taken a job selling newspapers at least partly to earn money to travel out of state and see a grandchild for the first time, but he never had the chance to make that trip, Durmire said.

Durmire was still trying to figure out Monday afternoon how to tell his church family of the loss.

"He was a great guy, really was," the pastor said.
Beyer was the second fatality in as many days involving a motorcycle.

A 52-year-old woman died Saturday after a Toyota pickup collided with the motorcycle on which she was riding, the patrol said. Linette L. Walden was thrown off the back of the bike. She was pronounced dead at Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point.

Brian Kroen, 40, of Hudson was westbound in the pickup on State Road 52 when he started to turn left and drove into the path of two eastbound motorcycles about 8:10 p.m., the patrol said.

Steven R. Walden's 1991 Harley-Davidson slammed into the pickup and overturned, ejecting Linette L. Walden, the patrol said.

Steven Walden was taken to Regional Medical Hospital. His condition wasn't available Monday.

Dennis Adair of Lewiston, Ind., and Melanie McCoy were riding a 1987 Harley-Davidson near the Waldens when it collided with the truck, throwing them off their motorcycle. Adair was taken to Bayfront Medical Center in St. Petersburg, where he was listed in critical condition on Monday. McCoy was at the same hospital in good condition.

Kroen, the pickup driver, was treated at Morton Plant North Bay Hospital and released.

Troopers still were investigating the crash Monday. Anyone who witnessed it is asked to call Cpl. E.W. Bromiley at 1-800-235-6019.

Reporter Lisa A. Davis can be reached at (727) 815-1083 or ldavis@tampatrib.com.

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