Austin McElroy, 61, had left his place of work at JT’s Seafood Shack restaurant on State Road A1A Saturday night (Sept. 18) as he usually did: on his motorized bike. He didn’t own a car. He’d worked at the restaurant as a dishwasher and prep cook for about four years.
JT’s is located just north of 19th Rd. on State Road A1A, in the Hammock. McElroy’s home is a few blocks away, a small place on Shady Lane North.
Just before midnight, Cathy Benevenuto, 58, driving a 1998 Toyota PK, with Dana Benevenuto, 55, in the passenger seat, was traveling north on A1A. McElroy, according to a Florida Highway Patrol report, was riding north in the southbound lane, just north of 19th Rd. He crossed over from the southbound lane into the northbound lane, according to the report, and was struck by the left-front side of the Toyota.
McElroy was taken to Florida Hospital-Flagler, where he was pronounced dead at 16 minutes after midnight, the morning of Sept. 19.
His next-of-kin had not been notified when the highway patrol released the report because none had been found. A colleague at the restaurant, where McElroy worked full time, described him as “great” and “awesome.” A search for his relatives is ongoing.
McElroy’s death was the second road fatality the evening of Sept. 18 on Flagler roads.
See Also:
- Harley Motorcyclist Killed on I-95, Possibly in Hit and Run
- 7-Year-Old Boy Critical After Crash on Old Kings Road Shears Car in Half
- 2 Women, Both 19, Killed in Single-Truck Flip on US 1′s “Triple-A Curve,” 1 Man Injured
- Car Flips on I-95, Causing 3rd Fatality in 3 Days on Flagler Roads
wsh302 says
i was told that he had asked several people for a ride home because he was drinking after he had got off of work and they all refused to give him a ride, that is something i would not want to live with
poseiden says
shame
emcfizzle says
wsh302: please do not comment on things that u truly dont know, i worked the man everyday, we all offered a way for him to get home that night!!! but when his mind was made up, that was it! we are all completely heartbroken over this tragedy! so please in the future keep your mouth closed on matters that you are ignorant to!! we loved that man as a family member, and would have never let him leave if we had control over it!
so leave your unfounded comments somewhere else!!
Danielle says
I hung out with him the whole night before this tragic event happened. Everyone dancing together. Making jokes. He was with us and his other friends having a blast and then this happened. He is truly missed by everyone that knew him. WE MISS YOU “SKIP”!!
Jan says
JT’s should be ashamed of itself. They didn’t have the common decency to have their marquee sign dedicated to Skip.
The four line sign read all week:
1st Line “Watch NFL PACKAGE”
2nd Line “COLLEGE GAME DAY”
3rd Line “MEMORIAL SERVICE FOR”
4th Line SKIP THURS 930AM”
Are you that insensitive; you couldn’t have a sole message about Skip? Or make it the the top two lines? Very tacky.
It seems this place is all about the dollar.
some ppl r heartless!!! says
jan: yet another person without any concern for peoples feelings, how can you throw stones. we all have had a rough week, we had a beautiful service for that man, and he was sooo loved. how can you say we had no common decency, you are the one who should be ashamed of yourself!!! that sign wasnt intended to offend anyone, it was to let anyone that wanted to come pay respects was welcome to join us!!!!! did you?!?!?! please stop lashing out at the employees of jt’s because this loss has affected all of us so much, there is no replacing that man in our hearts and family that jt’s is!!!
Tara says
I am Skip’s daughter and just found out that he was killed. I haven’t seen him since I was 15 (25 years ago). I’m very sad about this and that nobody was able to contact me. Is there anybody who knows how to get in touch with his mother, Helen? Please let me know.
john behrbom says
my name is john and skip was my father. if anyone has any information of his remains or anything that i should know about please contact me.asap