BRADENTON, Fla. (WWSB) - After 2 fatal pedestrian crashes in Manatee County, happening roughly 5 miles and 5 miles apart from one another, concerns for public safety are being raised across both Manatee and Sarasota counties.

According to the Sarasota/Manatee Metropolitan Planning Organization website , from 2019 to 2023, there were 3,866 bike and pedestrian crashes, and 219 of those crashes were deadly between Manatee and Sarasota counties.

It’s a trend that has unfortunately not stopped, said Sarasota/Manatee MPO Executive Director David Hutchinson.

“We’ve seen a reduction in serious injury crashes involving vehicles. Unfortunately, we have not seen that same reduction in the serious injury crashes involving bicyclists and pedestrians,” said Hutchinson.

But for years, MPO has

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