2 Sarasota Men Killed In Single-Vehicle Crash

By NEIL JOHNSON | The Tampa Tribune
Published: July 13, 2008

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Two Sarasota men died when their car tumbled through a Manatee County parking lot, striking four other vehicles early Sunday.

The Florida Highway Patrol said John Gordon, 32, and Travis Fricke, 25, died when the 2003 Mustang that Gordon was driving went out of control at a curve on U.S. 41 in Bradenton about 2:20 a.m.

The car was traveling at high speed going north on U.S. 41 when Gordon lost control and spun into a Goodwill Industries parking lot. The car started to cartwheel, striking four parked vehicles, with the impact flipping on its side.

The Mustang also plowed over several small trees and concrete poles before hitting a Goodwill sign.

Gordon was thrown from the vehicle, the highway patrol said. He was not wearing a seat belt. Fricke was wearing a seatbelt. Both died at the scene, the highway patrol said.

The car ended up on its roof in the parking lot of a neighboring restaurant.