Injured Dunedin Man Hit Near His Home

A rolled up newspaper sat on the front stoop at Ronald Fanter's modest Dunedin home Sunday afternoon. 

Fanter, 54, was one block from his home on Lotus Drive South when a westbound vehicle struck him in the median lane as he attempted to cross six traffic lanes on Main Street around 8 p.m. Saturday evening. The area of Main Street where he was hit can be seen from his home.

Fanter sustained life-threatening injuries. He was taken to Bayfront Medical Center in St. Petersburg, where he remains in critical condition as of 4 p.m. Sunday. The Pinellas County Sheriff's Department reported that Fanter was not in a crosswalk.

According to a neighbor, Fanter was disabled and did not work, and was often seen walking with the assistance of a cane, a walker or different shopping carts, which would be frequently left around the yard or neighborhood. On Sunday afternoon, a green shopping cart could be seen in a grassy area across from Fanter's home. The garage door at Fanter's home was open, showing it full of items such as an empty fish aquarium and old wheel chairs. A car was parked in the driveway, but no one answered.

Jeffrey Ting, 18, the driver of the vehicle, a silver 2006 Hyundai Elantra, was not injured.

A woman who answered the door at Ting's home did not wish to comment. She said, "We're just trying to deal with this right now."

The Sheriff's Major Accident Investigation Team is still looking into the incident.

No charges have been filed at this time.