Bicyclist dies after being struck by Sarasota Deputy

According to Florida Highway Patrol, shortly after 11:30 p.m. Thursday, a Sarasota County Sheriff’s Deputy hit a bicyclist. The incident took place on US-41 near the intersection with Bay Street.
State Trooper Kenn Watson state the investigation is on-going but so far everything shows that the deputy was not at fault. Watson said the deputy was traveling north of US-41 for a non-emergency call while the bicyclist was traveling across in the crosswalk on a red light.
The victim was a 22-year-old female and according to Watson the deputy did not see her. Watson also explained the deputy got out of his vehicle and tried to render aid but the victim was taken to the hospital and later died.
“In a situation like this, we have two victims. We have the victim who was struck, and we also have poor deputy who is going to live the rest of his life knowing that he was involved in a crash that took someone’s life. Regardless of the point that it was not his fault,” said Watson.
Watson also explained that the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office immediately alerted FHP to the crash so they could conduct the investigation.
Omar Siddiqui is a family friend of the victim. He said her name was Evelin Dayana Herandez Socha.
Siddiqui explained Socha had a husband and a 5-year-old son. He carried on explaining she worked at the Walmart just down the street from the crash and had just left work.
“She barely even lived life. It’s just so sad that it ended, and I don’t know what’s going to happen with her husband. He’s in shock,” said Siddiqui. “He can’t even really speak at this point and then their son. He doesn’t even know, and the father doesn’t even know how to tell his son. I, I don’t know they are going to need a lot of help. A lot of help.”
Siddiqui described Socha as loving, passionate, and kind. He said she had moved from Columbia a few years ago to start a new life. Siddiqui said she had been working at Walmart for a few months to help support her family.